The Sun. — London, England, 1849-02-24 00:00:00

ENMI )A Y.) S. S, W., DeTon- ket, Pe- wfound- licstrol, ner, of in with to Sea- pumps lerland, this day having and for lei Gat and sus nehored lin Car he Min- n, from 1 on the 11. Stir inuary ; achamp, ; Eliza- N'tobile ; ', Char- Henry (omen, o, Sper- —Arrd. London; ) Muud, Diana, I Camil- 4.Y.) Vege iness was Fruit-- es, black r bushel; 3 per half , per 100; 1 s 6d to 1 Celery, ; Onions, ) 8s per bundles; , 12s to , oy Cab.. Carrots, bunches; ill, 6d to e; forced s to Is ad Brussels to 8d pet bundles; er dozen • !I Beans, ; tto, 8d to ah ; Sur larn-doot ; French I per lb. armigan, id ; Wild overs, 6d 9; Veal eal, 41 to 3d to 6d; les, 6d to to is 6d Is to Is Oysters► e from 7d b to 7216, ),801b to o, 961 b to alt Skl o 4 d She e p.. Down* rer SupPIT ; Clover per load. 1; Clover per load. against the pro• l ie y ditatea he cow ban that Church ) note in , but all ery slow pers of tminster Lt would for whii bercy ,diuut ° 1 erystioa ay COW" Fur ey ' I yester made i n te nded b e same for stied 'pus, !V and ink' en of as y of my r of Mr. ain s uch commit" ie forth ' of the on the ; in the Mend to a bows them to mt, EVY• E. - &Y. lity (t)' wile (0' Frio& ►B7t s l`rs" p.! gar ( 1 2: back I gat P c , 45 to Offei. to t, 14 " s ", 1 010. he 011 , a a, so I neat.'w WO' ;n2ll°l Bottl e ; rOi• Toel. , Bursa ~ s'xiP ;; rril I _,lo , ; Fop , go of EIOU SCi onger gill Ve . ci., woo . B ier• Vired'' ['lwo" ~ ~ ~ I SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS. FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAY. CHRONICLE.—Mr. Cohd,n's proposal to agitate for a repeal of the Malt-tax, has had nearly the same effect as if he had flung an apple of discord amongst the agriculturists. The Pretecti , )n Society is divided and in confusion. The magnates of " the country party" are at issue with the farmers, and the farmers with one another upon the point. But they all agree that they are an oppressed race, and that an intoler able amount of local taxation has been unfairly imposed Upon the landed interest, for the benefit and through the baneful influence of the manufacturers and the monied class. This, or something very like it, will pro bably form the groundwork of Mr..Disraell's motion on the Bth of March. Now, we dispute the assumption. We assert the groundlessness of the complaint. We maintain that the landed interest pays very little (if anything) more than what, upon any conceivable prin ciple of apportionment, could be deemed its fair share of the local taxes ; and that every method hitherto suggested for shifting the burden, would inevitably end by aggravating it. In the first place, let us come to a dis tinct understanding as to the meaning of the term "landed interest ;" for it strikes us that "the country party" now habitually resort to a vice analogous to that practised by the Roundheads when they employed the King's name and authority against his person. Suppose it should turn out that the Free -traders and the Man chester school actually pay more than half of the poor rates as occupiers of land technically so called ; is it open to Sir John Tyrrell and Mr. Bankes to mix up such a payment with their own, and take credit, as against the Free-traders, for the whole ? For the sake of the pre sent argument, the landed interest should be taken to comprise merely those who were, or supposed themselves to be interested, in maintaining the corn laws. The sum raised annually under the name of the poor-rate is be tween eight and nine millions a year, of which rather loss than five millions is applied for the relief of the poor. How much does the landed interest, so de fined, contribute towards it ? We have no means of forming an exact estimate; but we can prove to de monstration that their quota is far less than is commonly stated or supposed. It appears from the Parliamentary returns, that the annual value of property rated to the poor-rates in 1847, in England and Wales, was rather , more than sixty-seven millions. The annual rateable value of three of the most exclusively agricultural coun ties stands thus:—Dorset, 789,342/.; Bucks, 706,2651.; Bedford, 433,3471. That of the three counties in which 14 6,2811 ; det manufacturing and trading interests most prevail, the I▪ t - -Lancashire, 6,463,3631. ; West Riding, 1 3,.., Middlesex, 7,584,8681. Take whatever Bounty you will, it s rateable value will be found to I depend principally upon the towns. This is curiously illustrated by other tables, in which nine teen of the largest agricultural unions are compared with twenty large towns. The rateable value of the agricultural unions (including some small towns) 1,494,3821., and that of the large towns 6,265,971/. Did our space allow, we might attempt a more detailed analysis; but it would be utterly impossible to draw a strict line of demarcation between town and country, or between the agricultural and the monied classes. They mingle and blend with each other like the shades in shot silk; and it would be difficult to name a family, or even an individual, possessed of property, that did not, in point of fact, belong to both. So far, however, as the pure agriculturists (the class who thought they derived a direct and positive advantage from protec tion) can be distinguished from the community, We should say that their contributions towards the poor -rate are nearer two m illi ons t h an e i g h t . We refer peculiarly to the poor-rate, because it is the local tax, of all others, which, although the ob ject is general and national, is supposed to fall almost exclusively u p o n th e l a nd. The entire local taxation of 4 ' 73 Rlend and Wales may be taken in round numbers at twelv e millions, but this includes borough rates, light house dues, turnpike tolls, and other rates, which are either not levied upon agriculturists at all, or, by com mon confession, are fairly and properly imposed upon Ithem.... The exception that occurs to us is church - rate, "nit!' amounts to more than half a million. It may be Plausibly contended that the expense of maintaining the churches should be equally defrayed by all classes. But, b efore arriving at any conclusion upon the point, it may as well to ascertain what property is liable under the chief local rates, and whether any groundless or undue exemptions have been allowed. The original impo sition and apportionment of the poor-rate was deter alined by the statute of 43 Elisabeth, in 1601. The I church-rate is raised in the same manner, by analogy. T hat statute ,directs the churchwardens and overseers, °c-, to take orders from time to time to raise " by taxa tion of every inhabitant, parson, vicar, and others, and of every occupier of lands, houses, tithes impropriate, pro. Mations of tithes, coal mines, and saleable underwoods . 11 , 1 . 1 ,he said parish, in such competent sums as they "ad think fit, &c., to be gathered out of the "sa me parish, according to the ability of the same parish." It will be observed that the liability is not limited to land, nor to any spe teed description of property. " The words of statute (to borrow the expression of Lord Mans " cet a) are very loose and general, and they may be construed into any latitude, even to make all a man i Tt e s la any way, the measure of his ability; for truly and rowedatantially it is so; but usage has explained and nar bu it." Personal property was expressly held liable, .„ usage , r es ulting from a common sense of conveni ence and utility, has given rise to some important exemp tions, and the threatened attempt to abolish these, simply indicates an utter ignorance or culpable forgetfulness of the lessons taught by experience. For example, the l anded interest in the south and west of England insisted that the woollen manufacturers should be rated for their stock in trade. They were rated. The immediate feff ect was, to prevent the investment of capital in the very parishes where it was most needed and most eager to come ; namely, those where labourers were Most abundant. The ultimate result was, to drive the trade to other parts of the kingdom, where more en lightened views of self interest prevailed; and a sense of the inexpediency of such an extension of the rate led to the statute which expressly exempts the woollen trade. An inhabitant has been held liable in respect of funded Stock, which clearly adds to his " ability;" but a diffi culty arose as to whether it accrued within the parish, and it was also felt that every rate levied on such a Principle would subject the entire parish to some of the Worst annoyances of an income-tax. Here, again, 'the ! 111 is modified by usage; and when it is remembered that a fundholder (such as certain finance reformers, Who shall be nameless, have made up their minds to /legalize) is a rare animal, and nine-tenths of the public funds belong to small holders of the middle class, do not think that usage in this instance will be very Ivehemently condemned by any party. As for capitalists 11 general, t wo l arge and wealthy sections of them, the railway and canal companies, complain bitterly that t hs are paying pounds in respect of the self-same land which, , in the unimproving hands of an agriculturist, P ai d pence. With regard to proposed measures of e 9u;lizati on the only comprehensive and effective one h itherto proposed, is to abolish the taxes in question al t9gether, provide for their various objects out of the na 2_?nal revenue, and invest our local, as well as general, ~:l utn inistration in the Government. But the ob ectiens, political and economical, to such a plan a re ob v i ous , an d (i n our o pi n i on ) insurmountable. A " Central Board of Control seems to be as duch centralization as the English public can be in aced to endure without wincing; and every thinking m an will see that, to entrust our whole provincial ex penditure • and management to Government officers, e 'uld imply (or soon induce) a hopeless incapacity for self -government, and destroy or neutralise the only available chec k s on ma l versat i on , neg li gence, an d waste . tha t subject is one of first impression; and it is our wish 4t our present remarks should be regarded simply as i , a k to inquiry and reflection. We recommend them, e f t "" all fitting deference, to Mr. Disraeli iu that cepa l an We are as anxious to abolish all unequal taxes, d A: di scontinue all class legislation, as he can be; but will • ait e him fair warning that rhetoric and sophistry will hardly strengthen his present position by foster ,,cg the false hopes and vain delusions e hick undermine, !tnpair, and must eventually destroy all spirit, energy, e nterprise and self-reliance in the agriculturists. DAILY NEWS.—Surely the very extraordinary ob iection raised by Mr. Hawes to the production of a paper r elative to the negoti a ti ons b etween the Hudson's Bay Company and the Colonial-office about Vancouver's Is land,„ will not be allowed to p ass w ithout further com ment in Parliament. Mr. Hume moved to have the g i nion of the Queen's Attor ne y and Solicitor-General to :Pectin g the competency of the Hudson's Bay Company ale give a grant of land from the Crown laid upon the 0 1 1 ° of the House. Mr. Hawes stated that the Colonial „Tee would not p ro d uce the document if it were in their p o ssession ; and abet moreover the opinion in question :_ 5 ll the private pr o p erty o f t h e H u d son ' s B ay C om p an y, a nd that he doubted wh e th er i t were i n t h e power o f Par liament to compel its production. Th e fi rs t t hi ng i n thi s !Ply that strikes every unprejudiced mind as offensive I n d objectionable is the part played by the Colonial-office, l e accepting and acting upon such an opinion. By call _ t for it th e C o lonial-office showed that they entert a i ne d Kra, doubts of the legality of a grant of lands to the i, ( 0 1 / 1 PanY- This being the case, the Colonial-office ought 4e h ave consulted the law officers of the Crown as public t 0 r°47 : 48 . Instead of doing this they allow the company th Produce an opinion which they have obtained from et : Crown counsel upon payment of a fee, and on the eete,ngth of a private confidential ex parte statement. In I ng upon an opinion thus procured, without attempt e„ to obtain an Unbiassed opinion for the Crown, with tv._ allowing the other parties competing for the grant ef i e r low its nature and offer objections to it, the Colonial lste,,e have seriously compromised themselves and vio their public trust. The next objectionable feature efn e uis extraordinary transaction is the conduct of the law r et j r a of the Crown. These officials are permanently e re 'aell and well paid to act for the interests of the a ed w rh Is it to be tolerated that they shall receive fees Prie n g ir a opinions upon an ex parte statement to fr om parties who have an interest seate ta n i, and, it may be, adverse to that of the Crrown? th e f , it will be remembered that the Crown holds ie t w aste lands of the colonies and dependencies only e ro r ust for t h e nat i on . The responsibl e a d v i sers o f t h e th es w a, have coun se lled it to convey a large e xt en t o f t, ee F latds to a Company whose legal competency to ix e l " such a gran t h a s been doubted by the Colonial le, a, a nd is still doubted by many of our most learned poYer to and experienced statesmen. And when called n opi ui ° produce the document which contains the 1 e ,.,. °11 that has dispelled their own doubts as to the 11 4 1: 1 13 7 of the transaction; they deny the power of Par t° ttertuLto compel its production. Are . Ministers entitled ne r such a matter upon an opinion which they can tea„ThP oduce in their own vindication ? 'The matter gn t rest here. The public interest, the legality of the conductall of the Colonial -office and the Crown counsel are svhieh_ mixed up in this question. And the transaction p ea . an attempt is made to conceal from public ex -18 ' lre by the extraordinary declaration of Mr. Hawes, -.Hier more nor less than an attempt to perpetuate and extend the powers of the only survivor of those un justifiable monopolies which were a main source of the fatal dissensions between Charles I. and his Parliament. ELECTION OF BRIDGEMASTER FOR. THE CITY OF LONDON. Elections like these are apt to create as much excite ment as political contests ; but they are of a very differ ent nature. Each candidate stands upon his own personal character, his tried integrity, and the opinion his friends and fellow-citizEns have of him, apart from all party considerations. Of course, feelings and friendships in• fluence voters, but those sentiments are founded on that approval of the individual in whose favour they are manifested, which nothing but honourable conduct and unquestionable respectability and fitness for the office can establish. Mr. George Ledger, it is believed, is pretty sure to obtain a considerable majority. Ile has been a candidate upon a previous occasion, when he registered mere votes than had been polled by any suc cessful candidate who had come forward since 1822. He lost upon the last occasion by a small minority; but he had 700 fictitious votes against him, as might have been proved (and, to some extent, was proved, in a court of justice), but for the Act of Parliament, which only allowed him fourteen days for a scrutiny of 5,000 votes, which could not be accomplished in that time, to say nothing of the cost. The following are the results of previous elections:— 1822. Lewis 2,086 Norton Shotter Moulden Hainsworth Dale Smallman Sage Clark Houghton 1841 Gibbs 2,745 Ledger GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY The usual half-yearly meeting of the proprietors of the Great Northern way was held yesterday at the London Tavern; Mr. Beckett Denison, M.P., chair man of the board of directors, in the chair. The meeting was held in the large room of the tavern, and was most numerously attended. The CHAIRMAN, .before the report was read,. entered into an explanation of the circumstances which, had led to his retirement from the chair. It would be remem bered that at the last meeting a pledge was g,iveu on the part of the directors that in future a rigid system of economy should be practised in the management of the company's affairs. In accordance with that pledge, he turned his attention last autumn to the expediency of reducing the expenditure, and having carefully considered the subject, he made certain proposals for re ducing the salaries of their officers, which were rejected by his colleagues, and it was that circumstance which had induced him to resign the chair. Since that period, however, such arrangements had been made which would enable him, without making any compromise of his principles, to return to the chair—(Cheers)—end he ; did so with the more pleasure, because his return had u been solicited by his brother directors, whose invitation convinced him that, although they might have conscientiously differed upon the policy to be pursued by the company, they had never forfeited their respect for each other, and he should therefore return to th e c h a i r w ith th e fullest con viction that while he adopted a straightforward honest course he should always receive their esteem, and further the interest of the shareholders. The report stated that on the 17th of October the line was opened to the extent of fifty-eight miles from Peterborough by Boston to Lincoln. The East Lincolnshire line, forty-eight miles, was com pletely opened a f ew d ays prev i ous l y , an d since that period the Great Northern trains bad been regularly worked over these 106 miles, affording communication between Hull and London by means of the Eastern Counties, or the London and North-Western lines. From the Ist of January last her Majesty's mail, had been conveyed between London and Hull by this route. The lino from Lincoln to Gainsborough, sixteen miles, was on the point of completion, and would be opened next month. In September last a small portion of the line from Doncaster north to Askern was opened, and worked, under agreement, by the Lan cashire and Yorkshire Railway Company. To avoid the immediate outlay of capital further northwards, an ar rangement had been made with the York and North Midland Railway Company for the use of their line from Burton Salmon into York. The works from Retford to Doncaster wer a progressing rapidly, and it was fully ex pected would,,teagether with the line of the Manchester, Sheffield, and I dincolnshire Company to Retford, be ready to open, and thereby complete the continuous line from Lincolnshire into Yorkshire in the course of the ensuing summer. Arrangements had been made with Mr. Brassey, the contractor, by which that important part of the Great Northern system—the line from London to Peterborough, would be completed and ready for traffic in September, next year; and the directors, desirous of reaping, at the earliest period, the advantages to be de rived from having the main trunk line connected con tinuously throughout, were preparing to let the works north from Peterborough, by Grantham and Newark to Retford, in the hope of accomplishing this object early in 1851. It will be satisfactory to the shareholders to be in formed that the directors, after mature consideration, had every reason to btlieve the authorised capital of the company would be sufficient to complete the works of the railway necessary, and to provide the plant; but in coming to this conclusion, the large amount of calls in arrear—above half a million—must be made available. The directors have well considered the subject of calls in arrear, and for the protection and promotion of the interests of the company, they had with reluctance, and as a painful duty, resolved to proceed to the forfeiture of every share on which there were arrears of calls, excepting only in the cases of those pro- , prietors in Default, who had entered into en gagements for securing the payment of them. The directors had considered the expediency of pro viding for the law business of the company, by the ap pointment of a solicitor or law clerk, at a fixed salary ; and had come to the opinion that, for the present, it was more advantageous to the interests of the company to continue to have the business carried on by the soli citors who had hitherto conducted it—they having as sented to certain modifications in the usual professional charges, and to their bills being examined and revised, before payment, by a gentleman of high standing, ac customed to the taxation of solicitors' bills of costs. It was with regret the directors bad to state that, in November last, Mr. Edmund Denison, M.P., resigned his office of chairman et the board; but he retained his seat as a director, and continued to give all the support in his power to the interests of the company. The present was the occaion on vb hich the annual retirement of a fourth of the board of directors took place; the five gentlemen retiring were Mr. Foster, Mr. Gill, Captain Laws, Mr. Pickersgili; 'but the board recommended the reduction of their number to sixteen, the smallest the Act allowed; consequently only Captain Laws offered himself for reelection. In proposing this re duction of their number, the directors recommended that the allowance to them of 2,5001. be reduced to 2,000/. per annum. The directors bad recommended that the secretary's salary be reduced to 8001. per, annum for the present. The balance-sheet represented the total receipts up to the present time to amount to 4,033,8021. Os. 3d., and the expenditure to 3,636,0331. 12s. 7d.; leaving a balance in hand of 39,768/. 7s. Bd. The calls in arrear amounted to upwards of 600,000/. The revenue state ment made the receipts for the past half-year 19,513/. 10s. and the expenditure left a surplus of 8,558/. 14s. 3d. The CHAIRMAN, in moving the reception of the report, commented upon the statements contained in it, and con gratulated the proprietors upon the improved aspect of their affairs. They had made arrangements with Mr. Hudson which would prevent their making a competing line into Leeds, and if money could be saved by such means, they were quite ready to make terms with the York and North Midland, the Eastern Counties, or any other company alio might be disposed to negotiate with them. With regard to the determina tion of the directors to forfeit the shares on which the calls were in arrear, what other course could they adopt to protect the interest of the bona-fide holder ?—(Hear, hear.) tie would not, however, dwell upon that subject now, because a special meeting would be held in May to take it into consideration, when the directors would be prepared with a measure for inducing the registration of and payment of the calls upon the whole of the forty thousand London and York Extension scrip shares, and entitle the holders to the interest which was accruing from the Ist of July, 1847, but which could not be legally paid now.—(Hear, hear.) After adverting . to the system of railway rating, which he denounced in strong terms as being unjust and in equitable, he proceeded to justify the reduction in the number of directors, and concluded by again repeating his confident conviction that the undertaking would eventually prove highly remunerative, and assuring the proprietors that the severest and most persevering eco nomy would be studied in the management of their affairs.—(Cheers.) Mr. HUGHES asked how it was that the manager's sa lary, Captain Laws, had not been reduced. The CHAIRMAN replied simply because Captain Laws' allowance of 2,0001. had stopped altogether.—(Laughter,) Mr. HUGHES then moved a vote of confidence in Mr. Denison, which was seconded and carried by acclamation. The CHAIRMAN spoke a few words of thanks. Mr. HUGHES then proposed that in future the expen diture should be principally directed to the completion of the main trunk line, and that the allowance to the directors be reduced one-half.—(No, no.) The CHAIRMAN said the directors had no objection to the resolution it the meeting agreed to it. The meeting, however, expressed their disapprobation of it in an unequivocal manner, and the resolution was not persevered in. Mr. HUGHES then proposed that a law clerk should be appointed at a fixed salary of 1,0001. a year, but the proposal was opposed by the Chairman and negatived by the meeting. The resolution for the adoption was then put to the vote, and carried by a large majority. The shareholders then resolved themselves into a special meeting, and passed a resolution approving of a Bill before Parliament, to empower the company to make certain deviations of the line, and other changes to facilitate the promotion of the interests of the company, but not involving any additional capital; and also to con firm, finally, the agreements entered into with the Royston and Ilitchin Company for the transfer to the Great Northern Company, as authorised by Parliament, of that railway and the Shepreth Extension. A resolution was also agreed to, confirming the forfeiture of 238 shares, on which calls are in arrear, the object being to issue new certificates to the registered proprietors, who have sold the shares to parties who unjustly refuse to register the transfers, and yet retain the certificates. The numbers are as follow:-112,983 to 113,032-82,125 to 82 ,164-221,212 to 221,213-221,229-221,260 to 221,261 —119,523 to 119,530-79,862 to 79,871-108,264 to 108,268 214,954 to 214,963-161,548 to 161,567 159,793 to 1 59,822-42,953 to 42,962-126,329 to 126,338-172,077 to 172,086-145,714 to 145,718- 108,571 to 108,595. By this step the company receives all calls due on the shares. .A vote of thanks was then passed to the chairman and directors, and, the Chairman having acknowledged the compliment, the meeting terminated. trifling amount, the cost on the previous half-year being 19,734/, and in the last half-year 20,0001. The balance sheet stated the receipts for the half-year to be 328,891/. 17s. 6d., and the expenditure 319,427/. 2s. 3d., leaving a balance of 9,4641. 15s. 3d. The revenue account gave the receipts at 35,071/. 2s. 40., and the expenditure at 20,057/. 10s. leaving a balance of 15,013/. 12s. The CHAIRMAN in moving the adoption of the report, congratulated the proprietors on the progress and im provement of their railway. True, the cost of working was exceedingly heavy, but whe❑ it was remembered that their present traffic was purely of a local character, they had a right to hope that when the extension to Norwich was completed their income would be greatly increased, without adding any material amount to the expenditure. The earnings of their line even under their present disadvantages were equal to those of the York and North Midland and other Northern lines, and with the aid of cheap coke and improvements in machinery, they had already been enabled to reduce the locomotive expenses from 94d. to 9d., a cost which was even below that of lines in the north, where coals were to be obtained at a much lower rate than in their own district.—(Hear, hear.) With regard to goods traffic, that was a subject which had occupied a good deal of the attention of railway men; but, however, their own might be worked, he could hold out this gratifying anticipation to the proprietors, that when their line was opened throughout, the goods traffic would yield sufficient to pay all the working ex penses, and . leave a profit besides, so that the receipts from passengers would be all profit.—(Hear, hear.) The report was unanimously adopted, after which the retiring auditors and directors were re-elected. The shareholders then resolved thercselvea into a spe cial meeting, to authorise the directors to forfeit certain shares upon which some of the calls were in arrear; after which, . Thanks were voted to the Chairman and directors, and ,he meeting broke up. NEWRY AND LNNIKILLEN RAILWAY. p t b r e i e t G o r o s i b f a the c railwa yo a ff beoev-house ; iee The eighth ordinary general meeting of the pro p as Ne h w el v d y, y e e b s a te iv r m da s y a , o a f t the board of directors, in the ch a i r . The report stated that the continued depression in re lation to Irish railways had prevented the directors from concluding any of the arrangements with other companies authorised by the Act passed in the last session of Parliament. It was, however, considered that the time was now fast approaching when some general settlement respecting Railways in the north-western districts of Ireland would be and productive. ot effected, iail t whereby e t v h e e d p a r v o a p il e a r b t y i e of this company could n Un derstanding that Government was likely to aid in the completion of certain of the Irish lines, the directors, for the protection of their interests, took care to submit, in the proper quarter, a statement showing the position of this company in regard to others, for which such aid was required, and there was the best reason for believing, that if such assistance be given, care would at the same time be taken to secure for the public a passage for the traffic to and from the east coast, which could not be effected except by means of this line. Ndeawte and bear ingr, Warren s, The directors, pursuant to the resolution o f t h e l ast general meeting, had invested the sum of 8,0001. on mortgage Newry, of at the short Warren point,n i t interest t e a r n e d s Rf at °t sh t t er h e e v under t ak i ng rate ate o f Railway,6 l per cent. per annum. The balance-sheet stated the total receipt s t o b e 96,5391. 9s. 5d., and the expenditure at 84,617/. 17s. 7d. count did not state the liabilities. The securities amounted to 11,921/. lls. 10d. Th e ac- After some discussion the report was adopted, and a vote of thanks having been passed to the Noble Chairman, the meeting terminated. FROM THE LONDON GAZETTEi OF FRIDAY. WAR-OFFICE, FEB. 23 i 1849. 7th Dragoon Guards —Lieutenant-Colonel Charles P. Ainslie, from half-pay Unattached, to be Lieutenant- Colonel, vice John Charles Hope Gibsone, who: ex changes; Cornet Henry Blinkhorn, from the 14th Light Dragoons (Riding Master), to be Cornet, vice Young, who retires, Feb. 23. 14th Light Dragoons—George Arden Franklyn, Gent., to be Cornet, by purchase, vice Blinkhorn, ap• pointed to the 7th Dragoon Guards, Feb. 23. Ist or Grenadier Regiment of Foot Guards—William Andrew M. Barnard, Gent., to be Ensign and Lieute nant, by purchase, vice Sir James Carnegie, Bart., who retires, Feb. 23. Scots Fusilier Guards—Captain Ernest Fitzroy Neville, Lord Burgbersh, from the 17th Foot, to be Lieutenant and Captain, vice Wemysa, who exchanges, Feb. 23. 17th Foot—Lieutenant and Captain Charles Thomas Wemyss, from the Scots Fusilier Guards, to be Captain, vice Lord Burghersh, who exchanges, Feb. 23. 36th Foot—Lieutenant Aylmer Strangtord Craig, from the Ceylon Rifle Regiment, to be Lieutenant, vice Fortesque, appointed to the 71st Foot, Feb. 23. 41st Foot—Edwin Richards, Gent., to be Ensign, with out purchase. Feb. 23. 45th Foot—Lieutenant William Cairnes Armstrong to be Captain, by purchase, vice Moultrie, who retires ; Ensign William Fleming to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Armstrong; John Craigielkett, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Fleming, Feb. 23. 54th Foot—Major John Norman, from half-pay Un attached, to be Major, vice Clark, promoted, Feb. 24. 86th Foot—Ensign Maxwell Lepper to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Matthews, who retires ; Frederick Gardner, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase vice Lepper, Feb. 24. 90th Foot—Captain Charles Bulkeley, from half-pay Unattached, to be Captain, vice Brevet Major-Henry Robert Thurlow, who exchanges ; Lieutenant William Victor Johnson to be Captain, by purchase, vice Bulke ley, who retires; Ensign Herbert Milliugchamp Vaughan to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Johnson; Charles Cullen Maunsell, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Vaughan, Feb. 23. Cey ion Rifle Regiment—Lieutenant Aylmer Strang ford Craig, from half-pay 28th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice John Jermyn Symonds, who exchanges, Feb. 23. UNATTACHED. Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel John Clark, from the 54th Foot, to be Lieutenant-Colonel, without purchase; Brevet Major John Norman, from the 54th Foot, to be Major, without purchase, Feb. 23. HOSPITAL STAFF.—Daniel Maclachlan, M.D., Phy sician and surgeon of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, to have the local rank of Deputy Inspector .General of Hos pitals, for the duties of Chelsea Hospital only, Feb. 23. BREVET.—Captain Charles Bulkeley, of the 90th Foot, to be Major in the Army, June 28, 1838. MEmoateNourd.—The Christian mime of Ensign Ro berta, of the 4th Foot, is " Hodder," not " Redder," as previously stated. OFFICE OF ORDNANCE, FEB. 22. Royal Regiment of Artillery— Second Captain Wil liam Thomas Crawford, to be Captain, vice Glasgow, retired on full•pay; First Lieutenant John Desborough, to be Second Captain, vice Crawford; Second Lieu tenant Robert Boyle, to be First Lieutenant, vice Des borough, Feb. 15. - ERRATUM in the Gazette of Jan. 2, 1849. For Gentleman Cadet Lambert .0 my Dunn, read Denne. ADMIRALTY, F. 20. Corps of Royal Marines—John Michael De Conroy Meade, Gent., to be Second Lieutenant; George Oliver Evans, Gent., t o b e Second Lieutenant; Fran cis Walton, Gent., to be Second Lieutenant; Alex ander Somerlid Macdonald, Gent., to be Second Lieu tenant; Richard John H. Douglas, Gent., to be Second Lieutenant; Jacob R. Lloyd, Gent., to be Second Lieu tenant; George Couch, Gent., to be Second Lieutenant; Spencer George Walsh, Gent., to be Second Lieutenant; Henry Rolt Tomlin, Gent., to be Second Lieutenant; Frederick Herbert Ruel, Gent., to be Second Lieutenant; Richard Johns, Gent., to be Second Lieutenant; Josiah Pryce, Gent., to be Second Lieutenant; John Hinde Durham Bourchier Bowker, Gent., to be Second Lieu tenant; Francis Philip Toms, Gent., to be Second Lieu tenant; George Naylor, Gent., to be Second Lieutenant. Commission by the Lord-Lie u t enant o f B uc kinghamshire. Joseph Sanders the younger, Esq., to be a Deputy Lieutenant, Feb. 13. Commissions by the Lord-Lieutenant of Cornwall. _ Richard Buddeil Crowder, L.17t0 be Deputy-Lieu tenant; Richard GS raves Polwheie, Dq., to be Deputy- Lieutenant, Feb. 17. WHITEHALL, FEE. If. The Lord Chancellor has appointed Thomas Claye, of Manchester, in the county of Lancaster, Gent., to be a Master Extraordinary in the High Court of Chancery. EASTERN UNION RAILWAY. The usual half -yearly general meeting of the above company was held yes , erday afternoon, at Radley's.Hotel, Bridge-street—Mr. J. C. Cobbold, M.P., chairman of the board of directors, in the chair. The report stated that the directors meet the share holders with the cheering prospect of completing, at an early period, the Eastern Union line to Norwich, and of opening a considerable portion of it in the course of the ensuing spring. It PIGG now necessary with all possible activity to proceed with the works and stations and terminal arrangements of the entire line, and the directors, therefore, would shortly bring before the proprietors a proposition for carrying into exe cution the powers which the company possess, under an Act obtained in 1847, for raising an additional capital of 200,0001., fur which no shares had yet been created. The agreement for a lease of the Harwich line by the Eastern Counties Com pany was prepared, and would be forthwith submitted by the board of that company. The directors of both lines,were;anxious to expedite the works on the Harwich line, as Government had announced their determination to establish the Post-office mail steamers for Holland and the North of Europe at the port of Harwich. In reviewing the income of the company. it would be found that although no new line had been opened during the last year, the gross receipts had exceeded the receipts of the previous half-year by 5,9481., and those of the cor responding half-year, 1847, by 5,082/.; the working ex at the same ti me , i nc reased in a very pendature had, 'THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, •FEBRUARY 24, 1849. John Krauss, agent, Manchester, March 8 and 29, a twelve, at the Manchester District Court. Hobson, official assignee, Manchester; Johnson, Son, and Wea therhall, Temple; Potter, Manchester. Edward Davis, cattle dealer, Marnhull, Dorsetshire, March 7 and 28, at eleven, at the Excer District Court. Hirtzel, official assignee, Exeter; Slade and Vining, Yeovil; Terell, Exeter; Cragg and Jeyes, Bedford-row. William Scott, ironmonger, Exeter, March 8 and 29, at one, at the Ewer District Court. Hirtzel, official as signee, Exeter; Turner, Exeter; Spyer, Broad-street buildings. Henry Fenwick, banker, Liverpool, March 2, and April 3, at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court. Tur ner, official assignee, Liverpool ; Gregory and Co., Bed ford-row ; Duncan and Radcliffe, Liverpool. PRICE OF SUGAR. The average price of Brown or Muscovado Sugar, com puted from the returns made in the weekending February 20, 1849, is 248. 11:-N d. per cwt. MARKET INTELLIGENCE. (From the London New Price Current of Feb_ 23.) SUGAR.--Today the market again - exhibited a firm aspect for all sorts of free and slave labour Sugar. West India Muscovado was in fair request for home trade purposes, and former rates are well kept up for all kinds. The quantity sold amounts to 360, making 1,550 hhds, &c. for the week. For next week the public sales of Sugar are not expected to be large; a firm market is in consequence anticipated. REFINED.—To-day the home trade Refined market had a quiet appearance, and prices are not so firm, brown Lumps selling at 48s to 48s 6d, and Standard Lumps 49s to 49s 6d. Bonded Crushed is held with firmness at 29s 6d to 31s per cwt, and is much wanted. MAURITIUS.—This afternoon the demand was active for Mauritius Sugar, and 5,075 bags at auction sold at full rates, middling to good yellow went at 37s to 395, ordinary 36s to 36s 6d, good and fine brown 35s to 369, washed and syrupy 32s 6d to 38s per cwt. EAST INDIA.—This afternoon two parcels of Penang Sugar were offered at public sale, amounting to 235 baskets and 2,336 bags, the whole sold at firm rates, fine bright yellow soft went at 38s 6d to 395, good dark 35s 6d, middling 34s to 34s 6d, low 33s to 33s 6d, middling to good brown 30s to 32s 6d. Bengal is wanted, and the public sales of 3,444 bags went upon full terms. Of Manilla 3,144 bags, in bond, went at stiff rates. FOREIGN.—To-day there was no public sale of Foreign Sugar, and privately several inquiries existed at former rates, but at which there are very few sellers; the stock is nearly all in second hands. MOLASSES.—There is still much firmness in the market for West India, at present, however, few buyers ate to be met with ; prices rule at from I7s to 20s per cwt for low to fine. Bengal Treacle at 153 6d to 16s. Of Madras, 10 hhds at auction sold at 15s per cwt. COFFEE.—This afternoon East India Coffee was in excellent demand for shipping, and at public sale 2,387 bags sold at stiff rates, Batavia, good ordinary mixed black went at 28s to 28s 6d, damaged 26s to 28s, Manilla, good ordinary sound pale 32s 6d to 335, and damaged 30s to 30s 6d. The market for Ceylon is still quiet; 26 casks 378 bags were offered at auction, fine sold at 71s 6d to 80s 6(1, which are full rates, whilst other kinds went off flatly at easier prices. 63 bags Costa Rica went at 34s to 35s 6d for good ordinary. The market is dull for Native, good ordinary 34s to 34s 6d per cwt. Cocoa.—By private treaty a fair business has been concluded, and at stiffer rates—Trinidad red selling at 40s to 475, grey 39s to 435, and other sorts of West India 38s to 42s per cwt. There is a more active sale for Foreign, and only a small amount is on offer; prices are on the advance, and rule from 27s to 28s per cwt. TEA.—There has been little disposition manifested to operate in Black, still merchants for the most part dis. played firmness, and refused, excepting in very few in stances to sell, but upon former terms. The consequence was that nearly the whole has been taken in and with drawn. For Green the biddings have been languid, and a willingness to sell, whilst the rates show a decline of lid to 2d, indeed on good and fine Gunpowder_ the fall was nearly 3d per lb. Twankay, however, sustained the former value. The Canton kinds of Green were well got up, and excel those of last season. Fine Scented Orange Pekoe attracted attention and realised a slight advance; inferior kinds were held for the former value, but met with little inquiry. Of the total amount offered, only 6,900 pkgs were actually sold. RicE.—The market was better supplied to-day with East India. The public sales of Bengal contained 5,290 bags, 1,500 pockets, the chief part sold generally at steady rates, flue white went at 11 s 6cl to 12s, mid and good 10s to 1 ls, broken 9s, an d d amage d 5 s 6d to Ils 6d; of Madras 2,508 bags went rather cheaper ; 3,026 bags of Penang also went upon rather lower terms. SPIRITs.—The market for East India Rum has a more active appearance, and prices have ceased to recede. Leeward Island, about 200 hhds, &c., have been taken at is 4d to is 5d proof. Demerara, fine quality, 40 per cent over, proof at 2s 4d, good 35 to 36 over 2s Id to 2s 2d, and inferior 30 per cent at 2s. For inferior sorts of Jamaica trade is more active, and prices have ceased to give way ; superior kinds continue to be much wanted for home use and exportation, quotations are still rising owing to a small supply. The value of plain and middling quality 28 to 33 per cent. over proof is from 2s. 8d to 3s, good middling and good 34 to 36 over, 3s 2d to 3s 7d, fine 3s 8d to 4s 3d, and supe rior 4s 4d to 4s 10d. Holders of Havannah ask Is 3d proof, not many buyers are to be met with. Cognac best brands of the vintage of 1846 realise 4s 10d to ss, ditto 1847 3s 10d to 4s Id, ditto 1848 3s 4d to 3s 6d, inferior suns 2s 3d to 3s 4d per gallon. Geneva for exportation is quoted at Is 9d to Is led, and home trade sort 2s 4d to 3s 6d. British made Spirit unaltered in value. SPICES.—To-day at auction 424 bgs East India Gin ger were sold at better rates; mid and good Bengal bold export sort 23s to 25s 6d, damaged 9s 6d to 23s 6d, lair cut 435; Bombay, good export sort 24s 6d; 18 eks Jamaica, good ord to good 63s to 115 s; 380 bgs Penang Pepper, good black 2id to 2id, grey 2/1-1, and damaged 2d to 24d these are full rates; 55 bgs white, mid 4id to 4id; 42 cases Bourbon Cloves part sold, good bold is 4i; 14 ogs of Pimento, mid aid to 4-id; 42 cases Mace, mid to good 2s 2d to 2s 6d, inte rior is 10d to 2s; 6 cases Nutmegs, good brown 3s 3d, mid 2s 6d to 2s Bd, and 20 cases preserved Nutmegs is Id per lb. l'ALLow.—To-day prices again decline for Tallow, and fine P. Y. Candle on the spot is not quoted above 39s 6d, At auction 550 packages South American chit fly sold at 36s to 38s 6d, inferior 3313 d to 355; 479 dittu New South Wales 34s to 40s 3d; 12 casks Italian 37s 9d to 38s ; 67 casks Odessa 39s 3d to 39s 6d ; 65 casks Petersburgh second sort chiefly taken in at 371 to 38s 6d. OILS.—To-day a public sale of 578 pkgs Cocoa Nut Oil went at better rates; Ceylon sold at 34s to 375, and Zanibar 33s to 33s Gd per cwt. Sperm is wanted, and 70 tuns went at 79115 s to 811 for Colonial, and at 751 for mid American. COCHINEAL was more in demand today, end 90 bags at auction sold at lull rates; good ord and m id s il vers went at 3s 10d to 4s 2d, an d to good black 4s 10d to 5s 4d. SALTPETRE.—No advance is visible in the value, there having keen more business concluded by private treaty, not only for home use but also to supply export orders. The value of low to fine quality is from 25s 6d o 27s 6d per cwt. At auction 536 bags of Madras were sold at 25s 6d to 26s for good strong grey 7 per cent. r, fraction; 908 bags of Calcutta at 26s to 26s 6d for mid and good 6i to 104 per cent. refraction. British refined is wanted. Nitrate of soda is in greater supply. PARLIAMEN TARY BUSINESS. (From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons, FRIDAY, FEB. 23. STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE. The following Resolutions were reported from the above Committee : 1. That in the case of the Chester and Holyhead Railway petition for leave to deposit a petition for a Bill, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with:—That the parties be per mitted to deposit a petition accordingly. 2. That in the case of the Liverpool Sanitary Act (Altera tion of Sewer-rate) petition, the standing orders ought not to be dispensed with. 3.. That in the case of the Transfer of Sheffield Canal to River Dun Navigation Company petition, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with :—That the parties be per mitted to proceed with their Bill, provided the same be pre sented not later than three clear days after the presentation of this report. 4. That in the case of the. Lough Corrib Improvement petition, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with : That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill, pro vided the same be presented not later than three clear days after the presentation of this report. 5. That in the case of the Hospital for Consumption petition, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with : That the parties be permitted to proceed with their Bill, on serving a copy thereof on Mr. John Sawyer, of York, the brother of a testator to the Hospital for Consumption : That the Committee on the Bill do examine, in the first place, how far such order has been complied with, and do report the same to the House on the report of the Bill. 6. That in the case of the Taff Vale Railway (Exten sion in Merthyr Tidfil) petition, the standing orders ought to be dispensed with :—That the parties be permitted to pro- ceed with their Bill, provided the same be presented not later than three clear days after the presentation of this report. First, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth Resolutions agreed to. — Report to lie on the table; The undernamed Railway Bill was read a first, and ordered to be read a second time:— Irish South-Eastern (Amendment of Acts). NOTICES GIVEN AT THE PRIVATE BILL OFFICE. The following Railway Bills are ordered to be read a second time : MONDAY, FEB. _26. Lancashire and Yorkshire and London and North- Western Railway Companies (Transfer of Interest in the Preston and Wyre Railway, Harbour, and Dock, and regu lating the Management of the Undertaking). Llynvi Valley Railways. North Staffordshire (Amendment of Acts). TUESDAY, FEB. 27. London and Blackwall (Amendment and Extension of Time). Leeds and Thirsk (Power to guarantee Interest on certain Shares, &c.) 1824. Gillman 2,174 Hainsworth Moline 1831. Watson Gibbs 1,224 On Saturday afternoon a meeting of Mr. Ledger's friends took place in his committee-rooms, 62, Cheap side, in order to arrange and concert the requisite mea sures for securing his election, at which Alderman Thompson, M.P., ably presided. The CHAIRMAN, in opening the business of the meet ing, said he was sure there were a great many of his fellow-citizens better calculated than he was to lead the Livery of the city of London in disposing of their franchises on the present occasion, but the respect he felt for Mr. Ledger, at once induced him to come for ward and take an active part in the proceedings.—(Hear.) He needed not remind the meeting that on the last oc casion of a contest for this office Mr. Ledger had polled very nearly 2,500 votes, nor need he remind them of the strenuous efforts made by their opponents, in the 'pro fuse expenditure of money and other appliances, to keep him out of the office to which he aspired—(Hear, hear) —and which led to his defeat. Mr. Ledger was well known to the Livery as having been for many years de voted to the business of the City, and as taking an active interest in its affairs as a Common Councilman, and otherwise. He was an excellent man of business, well acquainted with commercial affairs, and he could state with the utmost confidence, that no one could be found better qualified to take the management of the Bridge House Estate.—(Hear, hear.) From Mr. Ledger's well-known business habits, he was sure he would keep his accounts in that correct and intelligible manner, that those who run might read them, and that he would on all occasions devote the utmost attention to the duties of his office. The pos session of these qualifications had induced Mr. Ledger to come forward as a candidate for the office, and he hoped they would be the means of rallying round him that support which would secure his return. Hitherto the office had been filled by men about Mr. Ledger's age, men well acquainted with City affairs, and above all, men well qualified to look after commercial matters. All these qualifications Mr. Ledger possessed in an emi nent degree, and although he understood that other candidates were in the field, he trusted that these, seeing Mr. Ledger's superiority in all the requisite qua lifications, would not put Mr. Ledger's friends to the trouble, and himself to the expense, of a contest. — (Hear.) These were the considerations which had in duced him to take part in the election, and he hoped their efforts would result in seeing their honoured friend placed in the important cffice of one of the Bridge masters of the city of London.—(Applause.) Mr. HOOTEN said he felt that in a meeting like the present, where Mr. Ledger was so well known, it would be superfluous to say aught in his praise. He had known him for many years, and a man of stricter integrity, ho nesty of purpose, and superior busines habits, he was sure they could not find in the city of London.—(Hear, hear.) He, therefore, begged to move that Mr. Ledger, having filled all the ward and parochial offices in the city of London, being thirteen years a representative of the Ward of Cheap in the Common Council, forty years a freeman, and thirty-five years a liveryman of the Sta tioner's Company, has thereby become identified as a citizen of London, and from his experience and integrity as a tradesman and accountant, is eminently qualified to fill the office of Bridgemaster. Mr. VALENTINE bad much pleasure in seconding the resolution, and paid a high compliment to Mr. Ledger's unimpeachable integrity and qualifications as a man of business. The resolution was then put from the chair, and most cordially agreed to. Mr. JENNINGS next moved that Mr. Ledger, having at the election in 1841 polled 2,445 votes (a larger number than that polled at any previous election), and no circum stance having occurred to induce a withdrawal of the good opinion thereby expressed by the liverymen of London, this meeting confidently recommends Mr. Ledger to their brother liverymen ;, that the meeting pledge themselves individually and collectively to make every exertion to promote the election of Mr. Ledger, and that a zommittee be now formed, with power to add to their number, to forward this object. Mr. LUPTON having seconded the resolution, it was carried with much applause, and a committee formed in terms of it. of which Alderman Thompson consented to act as chairman. On the motion of Mr. CHAMBERS, seconded by Mr. SPIERS, the special thanks of the meeting were cordially awarded to Alderman Thompson for his attendance at the meeting that day, and for consenting to act as chair man of Mr. Ledger's committee. Alderman THOMPSON acknowledged the compliment, and again expressed his hope that they would be able triumphantly to return Mr. Ledger to the office he aspired. Mr. LEDGER said he could not allow the meeting to separate without thanking them for their attendance, sad for the interest they had manifested in his behalf. It might be well, as indicative of his success, to state that he had called on several gentlemen that morning, who, on the occasion of the last election, were the stre nuous supporters of his opponent, and from all of them he was happy to be able to state he had got promises of support. Among these he might mention Deputies Pea cock and Stephens, Mr. D. W. Wire, and others; while he had received letters tendering him their support from Mr. Pattison, M.P., Mr. Rothschild, Mr. R. L. Jones, Mr. Fraser, Mr. Dillon, &c. These circumstances he had no doubt would be gratifying to his friends, who he begged again to thank for the manner they had rallied round him. The meeting then separated. The election takes place at Guildhall, on Friday next, March 2.—Era. [The friends and supporters of Mr.`,Ledger are exert ing themselves to the utmost to secure his return, and from the bighly congratulary tone of the letters, IF; hich are arriving by every post, from his brother Liverymen, we augur a favourable result. The highly influential list of the committee (which appears in another column of The Sun) fully proves the high position Mr. Ledger holds in the estimation of those privileged to retur❑ him, and shows an amount of respect and patronage seldom, if ever bestowed on a candidate at any former election for this or any other office of a like kind in the city of London.] RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. BRISTOL, FEB. 23. Saves EXCHANGE.—Great Western Fifths, 1 dis.—Great Western Quarters, 1% dis. LIVERPOOL, FEB. 23. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Bolton, Blackburn, Cheshire, and West Yorkshire, Preference, guaranteed 6 per cent (B), 17 1 / 4 Birkenhead, Lancashire, and Chester (late C. and 8.),221., 6 per cent., 1849, 7 uis. ex in.—Birmingham and Dudley, 5 1 / 4 p. ex int.— Caledonian and Clydesdale Junction, 61 ex in.—East Lancashire Quarters, 4 1 / 4 c.— Great Northern (B Shares) 6 per: cent., % dis.— Lancashire and Yorkshire (late Manchester and Birmingham), Fifths, 21. 3s. 9d. dis.—Ditto, 101. Preference, 6 per cent. 1% p.— Ditto, Halves (late Liverpool and Bury), 134 dis.—London and North-Western, 141—Ditto, New Quarters, 61. Is. 3d. p.—Ditto (Huddersfield and Manchester), 28—Ditto Leeds and Dewsbury Halves, 23%—Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, 101. Prefer ence, 114 —Midland Stock, 89—Ditto, Nev Half Shares, 6c. 5% dis.—Scottish Central, 25—Shrewsbury and Chester (late N. W. M.), 1 1 / 4 p.—Ditto, New 101. Preference, guaranteed 8 per cent., 15 Shropshire Union, 2Vdis.—South-Eastern and Dover, 25% —Ditto, No. 4, Thirds, 7% —York, Newcastle, and Berwick (G. N. E. Pur chase), 6 per cent. guaranteed, 1/. 18s. 9d. c. p. MANCHESTER, FEB. 23. -------, STOCK EXCHANGE.—The sales are—Lincoln 'Union, 2N—wo r th Staffordshire, 2% dis.—Sheffield and Lincoln, 14—Frewash Valley, 60 ex diva—Leeds, Fifths, 2%—Nest Riding Union, 3% ci s ._ Grimsby, 201. Shares, 11%dis.—Huddersfield, Thirds, 9%, BIRMINGHAM, FEB. 23. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The transactions were so few to-day, that the publication of an official list by the Stock Exchange was deemed un necessary. The market has a tendency downwards, with little in clination to buy. YORK, FEB. 22. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The business transacted to-day was as fol lows :—Eastern Union, class B (late I and B), 9 1 ,4—York, New castle, and Berwick, No. 2 (late New Berwicks), 211. Ss. 9d. — Ditto (U. N. E. Purchase), 9. GLASGOW, FEB. 22. STOCK EXCIIANGE.—The following are to-day's transactions : Aberdeen, Preference. 54s.—Caledonian, Preference, 114 Clydesdale Junction, GO -Edinburgh and Glasgow, 854 - Edinburgh and Northern, 12—Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ayr, 54—Ditto, halves, No. 1, 7—Ditto, Halves, No. 2, 71. is.—Great North of Scotland, 7- 31onkland, 75% - North British, Thirds, 955.—Scottish Central, 24j —Wilsontown, Morningside, and Coltness, 39. DEATH OF BERNARD BARTON.—We regret to an nounce the death of Bernard Barton, the philanthropic Friend and poet, which took place suddenly, at Wood bridge, on Monday last. Mr. Barton appeared as well as usual on that day, and somewhat more cheerful; in the evening, Mr. Brook, a friend, was sitting conversing with him and his daughter, when Mr. Barton, it is supposed not feeling quite well, took a candle and went to his room, and soon after rang the bell for his servant, who, on en- tering the room, found him reclining in an easy chair panting for breath. Miss Barton. and Mr. Brook ran up stairs, and at once sent for his medical attendant, who arrived only in time to see him breathe his last. Affection of the heart was the cause of his death.—Essex Standard. DEATH OF THE RIGHT HON. SIR GEORGE WAR RENDER, BA RT.—This well-known Baronet expired on Wed nesday evening last at his residence in Upper Berkeley street, Portman-square, after an illness of thirteen days' duration, aged 68. The deceased was son of the third Baronet by his marriage with Miss Blair. In 1822 he became a member of the Privy Council. He was a deputy-lieutenant of Haddington s hi re in which county, as well as in that of Bucks, he had considerable property. THE POWER OF INTEMPERANCE.—It drives wit out of the head, money out of the pocket, wine out of the bottle, elbows out of the coat, and health out of the body. fiANKRUPTS. Alfred Westley, miller , Southill and Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, to surrender, March 6, at twelve, and April 13, at one, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Cannon, official assignee, Birchin-lane, Cornhill; Valiance, Old Jewry Chambers. Richard Webster and Richard Webster, jun., watch and clock manufacturers, Cornhill, March 7, at twelve, and April 3, at eleven, at the Court of Bankrnptcy. Stansfeld, official assignee; Bolding and. Poper, Scot's yard, Bush-lane, Cannon-street. Benjamin Barrottee, innkeeper, North Walsham, Norfolk, March 5, at one and April 16, at h a lf-p ast twelve, at the C our t o f B a nkruptcy. Turquand, official assignee, Guildhall Chambers, City; White and Co., Lincoln's Inn fields; Taylor, Norwich. Richard Clarke, woollen dyer, Aldersgate-street, City, March 1, at twelve, and April 9, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Graham, official assignee, Coleman street; Crosby and Compton, Church-street, Old Jewry. Jane Davis, builder, Walton - on-Thames, March 1 and April 5, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. B Johnson, official assignee,asinghall- a t reet; F arrar, Doctors'. commons. John Chatterton, jun., lead merchant, Derby, March 9 and April 13, at eleven, at the Birmingham District Court. Bittleston, officialf i assignee, Nottingham; Hay wood and Webb, Birmingham. William Miles, stock broker, Worcester, March 8 and April 19, at twelve, at the Birmingham District Court. Christie, official assignee, Birmingham; Daniel, Wor. cester; Edwards, Clement's Inn. Benjamin Low, miner, Hill-top, Westbromwich, Staffordshire, March 7 and April 10, at ten, at the Bir mingham District Court. Whitmore, official ass i gnee , Birmingham ; Duignan and Hemmant, Joseph Busst, timber merchant, Walsall, Staffordshire, March 3, at twelve, and April 10, at halt-past eleven, at the Birmingham District Court. Whitmore, official assignee, Birmingham ; Venning, Naylor, and Robins, Token House-yard, Lothbury ; Hodgson, Birmingham. Joseph Ivey Baker and William Bennett Baker, iron dealers, Wolverhampton, March 10 and April 12, at eleven, at the Birmingham District Court. Valpy, official assignee, Birmingham ; Robinson, Wolver hampton. John Staddon, grocer, Holswarthy, Devonshire. March 6 and 27, at eleven, at the Exeter District Court. Hernaman, official assignee ; Stogtion, Exeter ; /3§ker, mad Jennings, Limo-greet. FRANCE. Le Credit announces, on the authority of its pri vate correspondent at Yassy, in Moldavia, that the Russian General Luders entered Transylvania on the 14th of January, and immediately took possession of the fortress of Brachew, situated one league and a half from the frontier. CROATIA. The Zeitungshalle has letters from Gratz, stating that the city of Agram, the capital of Croatia, has lately been declared to be in a state of siege. It ap pears disaffection is spreading among the Croats, who protest against the intended annexation of their country to Austria. They commenced their war against Hungary for the sake of their national inde pendence, and that independence being endangered by .the plans of the Austrian Cabinet, they turn against the Emperor, and are ready to oppose their Ban unless Jellachich makes common cause with them. CRIMINAL STATISTICS.—From a Parliamentary paper it appears, that during the year 1847 the number of bills submitted to the grand jury at the Central Criminal Court amounted to 3,312, of which 3,056 were returned as true, and 173 ignored. The number of bills preferred without any previous investigation before a magis trate amounted to 72, of which 11 were ignored, 17 re moved by certiorari, 20 dropped, and 35 prosecuted to trial. Of these 35 cases, 20 resulted in conviction, and 15 in acquittal. The total number of bills preferred at the Middlesex Sessions in the year 1847 amounted to 2,409, of which 2,318 were returned as true, and 132 ignored. The number of indictments removed from the two above-mentioned courts into the Court of Queen's Bench, amounted in 1845, 1846, and 1847 to 65, of which 36 were prosecuted to trial. The result was 20 convictions, 16 acquittals, and 25 cases in which roceedings were dropped. FINANCIAL REFORM.—Yesterday evening a very well attended meeting was held at Anderton's Hotel, Fleet street, for the purpose of organizing a grand association to promote the reduction of the national expenditure. Mr. R. Taylor, member of the Common Council, was announced as the chairman, but after a delay of thirty-five minutes, that gentleman not having arrived, Mr. E. Boyle was called upon to preside until his arrival. The chairman having explained the end for which they were assembled dilated upon the power of the voice of the people in carrying out a reform of anv great nati final abuse. The association they were about to - form had for its object the removal of a pressure which severely affected all classes, and he hoped that all present would co-operate in carrying out the great work. Mr. Taylor, who arrived an hour after the time specified in the bills, apologized for his absence, which was occasioned by the pressure of public business. Several gentlemen then ad dressed the meeting in support of three different resolutions, the first condemning the national expenditure as excessive and unnecessary; the second condemning the mode in which the funds for that expenditure were raised ; and the third determining upon the formation of an association for the purpose of reforming, if possible, these abuses. These resolutions were unanimously carried with much applause, and the meeting separated after thanking the chairman and committee. BUCKINGHAM PALACE. -- The Royal Standard which used to be hoisted to the top of the s taff fixed in the marble archway in front of Bucking!ia Palace, has been altogether removed, and has been raisedo of b the top topof the newly-erected frontage, at about the buildin g, centre The be distinctly . c w e h r n e r e e d it fr o w ir a t waves very very conspicuously, c onsiderable distance. alterations and additions to the Palace are no w fa s t advancing towards a state adcan yr cyropletiva. PARLIAMEN TARN DIVISIONS. (From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Commons.) FRIDAY, FEB. 23. PARLIAMENTARY OATHS. (IN THE COMMITTEE.) Motion made, and Question proposed, "That it is expe dient to alter the Oaths required to be taken by the subjects of her Majesty, not professing the Roman Catholic Religion, as qualifications for sitting and voting in Parliament, and to make provision in respect of the said Oaths for the relief of her Majesty's subjects professing the Jewish Religion :" Amendment proposed, to leave out from the word " expe dient" to the end of the Question, in order to add the words " to abolish all Oaths except the Oaths of fidelity and alle giance," instead thereof:—Question put, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Question." The Committee divided:— MAJORITY-AYES, 140. Abdy, T. N. Graham, Sir J. 'Neeld, John Adderley, C. B. treenail, Gilbert Newdegate, C. N. Anson, Colonel Grenfell, C. Pascoe Paeke, C. W. Archdall, Captain Grenfell, Charles W. Pakington, Sir J. S. Ashley, Lord Grey, Sir G. Patten, J. W. Bailey, Joseph Gwyn, Howel Peel, Sir Robert Bailey, Joseph, Jan. Halford, Sir H. Peel, Frederick Baillie, H. J. Wallis, Captain Plowden, W. H. .. . Baines, M. T. Harris, Richard Plumptre, J. P. Baldock, E. H. Hawes, Benjamin Power, Nicholas Bankes, G. Hayter, W. G. Prime, Richard Barrington, Viscount Heald, James Pugh, David Bennet, Philip Heathcoat, John Repton, G. W. J. Berkeley, Captain Heneage, G. H.W.: Ricardo, Osman Berkeley, C. L. G. Henley, J. W. Robinson, G. R. Bernard, Viscount Herries, John C. Russell, Lord John Blair, Stephen Hervey, Lord A. Russell, F. C. Bourke, Richard S. Hodges, T. L. Shell, R. L. Broadley, Henry Hodgson, W. N. Shelburne, Earl of Brotherton, Joseph Hogg, Sir J. W. Sheridan, R. B. Brown, Humphrey Rope, Sir J. Simeon, John Bruce, C. L. Hope, A. Sianey, Robert A. Campbell, W. F. Hornby John Smith, J. A.' Carew, W. H. Pole Hotham, Lord Smith, M. Tucker Carter, John B. Jerilyn, Earl Smyth, John G. Chichester, Lord J. Johnstone, Sir - J Somerville. Sir W. Christy, Samuel Keppel, George T. Spooner, R. Clerk Sir G. Labouchere, Henry Stanley, E. Clive, Henry B. Lascelles, W. S. Stanton, W. S. Cocks, T. S. Lemon, Sir Charles Staunton, Sir G. Cole, Hon. H. A. Lewis,:Sir T. Taylor, Thomas E. Cubitt, William Lewis, G. C. Tollemache, John Davies, D. A. S. Lindsay, Colonel Townshend, Captain Disraeli, B. M'Naghten, Sir E. Trevor, G. R. ..._ Dod, J. W. Macnamara, Major Tyrrell, Sir J. T. ~, I)rumlanrig, Vie. M•Gregor John Verney, Sir H. Duckworth, Sir J. Mahon, Viscount Waddington, H. S. Duncuft, John ; , ; Maitland, Thomas Walpole, S. H. Dundas, George . Mandeville, Viscount Walsh, Sir J. Farrer, James, Mangles, H. D. Williamson, Sir H. Ffolliett, J. Masterman, John Wilson, Matthew Floyer, John • '. Matheson, Colonel Wood, Sir Charles Foley, J. H. Maunsell, T. P. Wortley, J. S. Forbes, William Morgan, 11. K. Young, Sir John Fuller, A. E. Morris, David Gladstone, W. E. Mulgravc, Earl TELLERS. Goulburn, Henry Mullings, J. It. Tufnell, H. Granby, Marquis of Napier, Joseph G.ey, lt. W. Anderson, Arthur Bass, M. T. Bouvarie,7E.l'. Brown, W. MINORITY—NOES, 68. "leadlam, Thomas Rawdon, Colonel Henry, Alexander Ricardo, J. L. Hcyworth, L. Salwey, Colonel Ilindley, C. Scholefield, William Howard, C. W. Seymour, Lord hlumphery, Ald. Smith, J. Benjamin Jackson, William Statisticld, W. R. Langston, J. II.; Stuart, Lord D. Lushington, Charles Talbot, J. H. Mahon, O'Gorman Tenison, K. K. Martin, J. Thicknesse, R. A. Atelgund, Viscount Thompson, Colonel 31Itckell, T. A. Thompson, George Moffatt, George Thornely, T. 11foleiworth, sir W. Trelawny, J. S. 3f owatt, Francis Walmsley, Sir J. 3luntz, G. F. Wawn, J. T. O'Connell, John Williams, John O'Flaherty, Anthony Wood, W. P. Ogle, S. C. Wrightson, W. B. Ord, W. Osborne, Ralph Pechell, Captain Pilkington, James Caulfeild, .T. M. Cobden, Richard Crawford, W. S. Divett, E. Duff, G. S. Duncan, George Dundas, Sir David Ellice, Edward Ellis, John Evans, Sir De Lacy EVaIIS, William Ewart, William Ferguson, Colonel Fordyce, A. D. Forster, Mathew Fox, W. J. lyn, George Carr [anmer, Sir J. [astie, Alexander [astie, Archibald TELLEIIS. Smith, Vernon Hume, J. COURT CIRCULAR. The Duke of Wellington had an audience of the Queen yesterday at Buckingham Palace. HMr Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent accom panied by her Serene Highness the Princess Amelia of Hohenlohe Schillingsfurst, and attended by Sir George Couper, arrived in town at halt-past twelve o'clock yes terday, from her residence, Frogmore House. Her Royal Highness and the Princess of Hohenlohe went to Buckingham Palace and partook of a thjeuner with her Majesty and Prince Albert. The Duchess of Kent and the Princess Amelie of Hohenlohe Schillingsturst left Clarence House, St. James's, at halt-past three o'clock in the afternoon for Frogmore House. Her Majesty and Prince Albert took an airing yester day in an open carriage and four. Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. C. B. Phipps and Colonel Seymour, the Equer ries in Waiting, attended on horseback. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, Prince lfred, the Princess Royal, the Princess Alice, and the Princess Helena, took their usual exercise yesterday. Her Ho) al Highness the Princess Louisa was taken an 'Die Queen and Prince Albert honoured the per formance at the Haymarket Theatre with their pre sence yesterday evening. The Royal suite consisted of the Countess of Charlernont, Hon. Miss Cavendish, Lord Camoys, Lieutenant Colonel the Hon. C. B. Phipps and Colonel Seymour. The Dutch Dwarf, Van Tromp, had the honour of at tending at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday evening. The Queen's private baud played the following pieces on Wednesday evening at Buckingham Palace : Overture—" Oberon" Weber. Sinfonia (No. 2) His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge visited her Royal Highness the Duchess of Gloucester, yester day, at Gloucester House. Lord John Russell, the Lord Chancellor, the Marquis of Lansdowne, Sir George Grey, Viscount Palmerston, Earl Grey, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Francis 134 ring, Sir John Zobhouse, Lord Campbell, the Right Hon. H. Labouchere, the Marquis of Clanricarde, and the Earl of Carlisle, were present at the Cabinet Council, held on Thursday afternoon, at the Foreign-office. The Council sat one hour. Dispatches were sent off yesterday evening from the Colonial• office for the Governors of the North American Provinces, and also for the Governor of the Mauritius. The Chancellor of the Exchequer had a Parliamentary dinner party on Thursday, at his official residence, in Downing-street. The company consisted of the Mar quis of Clanricarde, the Earl Mulgrave, Lord Edward Howard, the Right lion. R. L. Sheil, Sir Denham Nor reys, Sir George Strickland, Colonel Dunne, Mr. Grace, Mr. Blackall, Mr. Wilson, Mr. J. O'Brien, Mr. Willcox, Mr. Fagan, Mr. Aglionby, and Mr. Langston. ROYAL POLYTECHNIC IZ STITUTION.—Dr. Ryan, this week, is delivering a course of lectures on the Chemistry of the Breakfast-table—a subject which, by the-bye, enables him. to give his audience an immense amount of really useful information. The principal fea ture of the lecture is the new process of preserving milk, patented by Mr. Moore, late of Arlington-street, hold ing a medical appointment in h er M ajes ty' s h o usehold. cen Dr. Ryan, after explaining the proc e ss, showed a spec imen of the milk which has been to the East indiesanlred. d good. other long voyages, and returned perfectly sweet a By means of this process the milk was kept perfectly clean and unadulterated. The difficulty of obtaining such a commodity on a sea inven tion of the sort a great acquisition voya ge e st render an t m o the traveller. The milk was preserved in a state, a nd this was done by separating one of its c omponent et s lt s waspartsp—l:eved in parts ---water. eases This madeater being separated, the solid ma air tight, and fit for sea travelling. It may be kept for any length of time without losing any degree of its proper ties. The lecture wus exceedingly well attended, and the audience appeared to relish highly the learned doctor's style and matter. M A RRIAGE IN 11IGII Ll FE. — Married, on Th urs. ydu Feb. 22, at Thorp e Malsor, by the Rev. G. E . Mat;nsell, chaplain to his Excellency t h e E arl of West moreland, and rector of the parish, John Oliver, of Buchlands, Berkshire, eldest on of Admiral Robert Dudley Oliver, to Lucy Diana, daughter of Thom a s P. Maunsell, Esq., M.P., for Northamptonshire, and the Hon. Mrs. Maunsell. THE IRON-TRADE. -- BIRMINGHAM, FRIDAY. — The iron- trade is remarkably brisk, orders being more than usually abundant. So decided a start has the market taken that un Monday last the principal houses in South Stafford shire issued circulars announcing an advance of 20s. per ton. MUNIFICENT COLLECTION.—After a very eloquent sermon, at the Holy Trinity Church, Paddington, on Sun- day, by the Rev. Robert Montgomery, N.A., upwards of 101/. was collected on behalf of the Hospital for Consump. ticand Pitneep et the clue, at glCrOPt94' NA VAL INTELLIGENCE. PORTSMOUTH, F RIDAY. —Admiral the Hon. Sir Bladen Cap-i, K.C.8., Commander-in -Chief of this port, streek his flag at sunset on Wednesday evening, and proceeded to London yesterday, to attend her Majesty's levee. The Admiral returns to-day. The Superb, 80, Captain Purcell, docked on Wednes day, to be further examined under water, was, by the admirable and economic arrangements of the superintend-' leg officer and assistants, got out to-day, and the Blen heim steam guard-ship docked in her room. The Apollo troop-ship, Commander J. Rawstone, sailed, in pursuance of Admiralty orders, this afternoon for the Mediterranean. The Commander-in-Chief, Admiral the Ron. Sir, Bladen Capel, K.C.8., returned from leave this afternoon,• and his flag was re-hoisted on board the Victory.. The issue of the naval medals for the actions fought during the late war commenced to-day at the office of Captain John Wilson, of the Royal Marines, the district officer for Greenwich pensioners. There have been only, twenty-five received as yet. In Port and fitting—The Victory, 22, flag-ship of•tha ' , Commander-in -Chief ; Illustrious, 10, flag-ship of Rour-, Admiral Superintendent; Victorialand Albert, Roy* yacht; Superb, 80; Excellent, gunnery exercise ship; Blenheim, 56, steam-block ship and guard-ship for steamers; Sappho, 12; and Rolla, 6, exercise brig for naval apprentices; Driver, steam-sloop; Fairy, Myrtle,. and Fire Queen, steam-tenders; Bee, exercise steam vessel for Naval College students;' Echo, steam-tug ' vessel; Fanny, Port-Admiral's yacht; Portsmouth, Ad-. miral- Superintendent's yacht and Navy-pay vessel. At Spithead—None. In the Ship basin—The Collingwood, 80; Pembroke, 72; Defence, convict depot; and Sparrow ketch. In the Steam basin—The Ajax, 56, steam-guard ship; Termagant and Retribution, steam-frigates; Birkenhead, Cormorant, and Phe3nix, steam-sloops; Fairy, steam. tender; Urgent, Bloodhound, and Otter, steam-packets. , In Dock—The Princess Charlotte, 104; Blenheim, 56, steam-guard ship; Vindictive, 50; Arrogant, steam frigate, 46; Devastation, steam-sloop; and Flying•, fish, 12. The Diligence, naval transport, arrived from Plymouth to-day. GIBRALTAR, FEB. 12.—Sir Charles Napier held a conference at the Club-house Hotel, on the 10th inst. • The British Vice-Consul for Tangier attended with. a number of Moors, to settle the claim made on the Rm., peror of Morocco. It was put to the arbitration of two, British merchants, who decided on 10,000 dollars, which are forthcoming. The landing of marines and armed boats' crews, with field-pieces from Sir C. Napier's squadron, took place at, the neutral ground, on the•Bth inst. It composed a body of near 1,800 men. --- The Governor (Sir R. Wilson) and officers of the garrison, with a number of ladies and civilians, were on the ground. The manoeuvring of the marines was directed by Cap tain Dusatoy, of the Powerful, and the seamen by the commanders of the different vessels, with a detachment, of field-pieces on either flank, the wkole under the he.. mediate co;nmand of Sir C. Napier. After passing in review order, quick time, the whole body formed into line, then performed a few manceuvree and exercised firing by sections, independent and vol leys; the seamen in the latter certainly showed great skill. It finished by a general charge, giving three cheers, headed by their Commander-in-Chief, when they re., embarked. The Governor expressed his approbation of the sea.. men's performances; and the officers of the garrison ge. nerally were astonished at their precision in firing. A little of that sort of work occasionally suits Jack, but not too much of it. The practice of landing with armed boats there can be no doubt is constantly necessary, as on this occasion the • Vanguard's men landed in the hurry without ammuni tion. There has not been much exercise in the squadron since the Rodney and Vanguard joined; but in sending, top-gallant mast and top-gallant and royal yards up and down, reefing and furling sails, hoisting boats in and out, there is no question but that the Prince Regent and St. Vincent beat all. The Powerful is equal to the Rodney, and the Vanguard generally last. The Prince Regent will be a first-rate ship in the Mediterranean squadron; her discipline is of the highest order. The Sharpshooter sailed for Naples on the 7th inst. The Sidon came from Tangier with dispatches on he 9th. • The Rodney sailed from Plymouth on the 11th. She took two of the Reynard's guns, as the Reynard laboured much in the late gales from the weight of metal. The crews of the Mutme and Locust are in the Rodney. The Prince Regent sailed at the same time for Malta, and on parting saluted Sir C. Napier, when the signal was made from the St. Vincent to the Prince Regent, "Keep up your character for smartness." The Polyphemus sailed for Tangier with the Vice. Consul. PLYMOUTH, FEB. 22.—Her Majesty's steam-vessel Fearless, which brought marines for the Rattler, sailed for Portsmouth on Tuesday, taking w ith h er 10 naval apprentices to go out in the troop-ship Apollo, for dis tribution among the ships on the Mediterranean station. Her Majesty's ship Impregnable, 104, with the flag of Port-Admiral Sir William flail Gage, is lying along. side the jetty ; and her Majesty's ordinary depot ship Agincourt, 72, Captain B. Mends, with the flag of Admiral-Superintendent Sir John Louis is lying in Ilamoaze. She was paid six months' advance on Monday ; when the Admiral-Superintendent compli mented her captain on the condition of the ship and the books. THURSDAY, Fouri ocLocK P.M.—The Rodney, 92, Cap tain Edward Collier, came in this afternoon from the Mediterranean ; lett Gibraltar on the 11th inst. She has on board 63 men ill, having been invalided from different ships. Since having the Straits, two have died of consumption (phthisis). The Vanguard, 80, Captain. George F. Rich, arid several other men of war,;were at Gibraltar. The garrison and town were healthy. On the 15th of February, in the Bay of Biscay, the Rodney sp, ke the Centaur, 6, Commodore Arthur Fan -shawe, C. 8., bound to the coast of Africa. She left Plymouth on Tuesday, the 13th. Wind W.N.W. ; strong breeze. WouLwlcu, FEB. 23.—The Torch steam-vessel went down the river yesterday on trial, and was found to answer very well, having made a speed of from nine to nine a halt linc,ts per hour. On her return to Woolwich she was taken into the basin. The Flamer steam-vessel went down the river on,trial today, in charge of Lieutenant Robertson, assistant to Cap ain Austin. Seventy workmen are at present employed on the Royal Albert, 120 guns, and if kept constantly upon her, she will be ready fur launching next year. Fifty workmen are employed on the Nankin, 50-gun frigate, and she is expected to be ready for launching in about three months from the present time. Thirty boiler makers are to be discharged from the factory department to-night, having received notice on alonday last that th e i r serv i ces wou ld not b e required after to-day, making a total of 80 discharged within the last fortnight. ADMIRALTY HOLYHEAD STEAM-PACKETS. The following is a statement of the time in which each of the four Admiralty Holyhead steam-packets performed their respective trips during the past month. So much having been said and written about those YOB.. sels, and doubtless each architect employed in con. strutting or building the steamers thinking his produc tion the best —or, rather, wishing the public to think 80, the tabular information will not be deemed uninte- resting : -TABLE PUBLISHED Ey ORDER OS THE LARDS OF THE ADMIRALTY. ;e length of Passage for January, 1849. 1 I St. Columba. Llewellyn. Banshee. 4h. 49m. 4h. lau. 4h. 15m. Trips, 11. Trips, 18. Trips, 23. Shortest Pas sage. 4h. 29m. Fine breeze, W.N.W. Shortest Pas sage. 3h. 44m. Light breeze, N. Shortest Pas sage. 3h. 38m. Calm. COPY OP TIME, Averag, Caradoc. 4h. 441 n. I Trips, 10. Shortest Pas- sage. 3h. 59m. Strong west wind. Longest Pas- Longest Pas sage. eage. 6h. 30m. 411. Wm, Heavy gale, Strong gale, W.N.W. W.N.W. (Signed) CIIARLES FRASER, RN., state it would appear by the above official taobtfi January. proved that the Llewellyn, during the mo n th the fastest boat by proved herself on the average to be : rips was 18, whilst five minutes, although the number Superinitserndent. that of the Banshee was 22. having performed the made by the Banshee, thatvesselminutes less time than the distance, in a calm, in s t i h x er ly breeze. The longest pas_ ale o f shortest passage was Llewellyn in a light 0 the I n in similar weather, strong gale, Banshee; the Llewe Y sage, however, run across in considerably less time W.N.W., having . as well as the shortest, was made by published in our Irish Yesterday we . correspondence a tof a trial trip between the Banshee and Llew ellyn, her remarkably swift competitor. statement •ri, in which the former vessel had an advantage of ell'i)minutes in the 64 miles run over the latter; but we rno means a f a i r tr i a l , t h e Banshee haevdinthgabteiet wntahs byoroughly overhauled and put in I the best possible steaming order previously, whereas the Llewellyn only received notice of the intended contest a few minutes before the vessels left the port. If this be true, it is not at all creditable. If there be any question of superiority, give the vessels equal chances, and then determine according to performance. We care not a an impartial and faithful straw which i s best—the are both surpassingly good— but we do care about havin gtrial, if it b e d etermined that super i or i tys h a ll b e d ec id ed by actual performances. We have had enough of joekeyis rn in ascertaining the relative merits of vessels of quite time to put an end t o t h e the royal nav y, an d it is practice.—Herald. Longest Pas sage. sh. 16m. Heavy gale, Longest Pas- sage. 7h. 42m. S tro ng gale, W.N.W. ltomE.—We sincerely trust that our Government will not interfere in any way with the course of events in Rome. Deeply as we sympathise with so excellent a Pope as Pius the Ninth, we are strongly and most conscientiously opposed to any appeal to arms in his defence. The Romans have an undoubted right to choose their own form of tem poral Government, and we have not the shadow of a right to interfere with them.—Hull Advertiser. THE SIEGE or MOULTAN.—We have been in formed that the citadel of Moultan had not fallen on the 9th ult., but the Sappers and Miners were within thirty yards of the glacie. _ _ A miller's linen bas been killed at Whitstable, by the sails of the w ind m ill s triki ng him on the head. The sails are very low, and this is not the first accident oc casioned by them. As an example of the rapid advance of New Zealand, it may be noticed that public omnibum ply u p and down the streets of Weiiirigt9ll. wed• , Bid e. f_