The Sun. — London, England, 1849-12-20 00:00:00

• • •• • ....° b:...... Deo./ ell ........ - •• ••• ••••• ~ i ..... ... o •••• . ro .. - 2L - % 0040. 0000000 • i 9~ 1 6, , 00000 0•••• •• 0,0 I •O MN / ,' ~L 2P • ..414 1 4 411 •• 000000000000 i, dis .. 0 v ••• 000000000 .. ••.• 0000000 .. b. —••••••• ••• R I .............. fJ THIS P.,,/, at noon .ather. N.N.W., 'troop, mondsey, A bf t ° ' Icutta ; Jamaica. ir,i)lo bins; 03 10, 11 ; Charlestoll„,. t, Hobart ".1° poi N, South Aus1:1111 Queen. Adera te, Ceyloo; 'M s '; Alltinda/e, Ruckers , St. of es; Ontario• 4° -Arrd. iete Tingsron 101 na, sa iled 1 4101 ;0 0f •kahire. Sh e 'l4 o ,l ew YorlF.,; Rothsay, P P V CaiC011°;00 I, Buenos Af ,Newt oric. 1 40 e ;dale, froni 'morning , ° l ' ° rived. ► t, from Sel f d risg ► mor ning, 4'70 9 cted to borcod" an d par' ° ° of TriestePoigth e Dock/JO° g• Abbe, W. I ,io. leaky, *for . 1 ,01 Peteribillhe 1/ ' I here 013 A be t oil a ga.e a cos as receils" ► e. The T„lltrectiL and wi" 0 14 " f / ia, of tbo_l ) , 0 1. southO N 10 ° 11 1 °' 1 , from Stec lamaged, 3sra p bell, o . o r 0 136 0 1 ' ,rock i gt e' parent oew-Prryoo-1 de • de, LODCIOI3 bop ig. 33 Vi r4 ll3 1144 POOP- 111 124 so 'ix 76% .. 21 12314 .~ L ~~ l4 ' ' ••• NEWPORT, DEC, 18 —Wird N.E —Arrd. Victory. Bu tin, Iliramict:i. SW. Tusket, St. Thomas's; Mercy, mstica. PENARTII M , ADS —Joseph Porti , r, Reid, Riehibueto. II nu., DEC. 19.—Wind N. N.Vv'.—Arrd. Janes Whi;e, Turner. Bois - Ally. GUERNSEY, DEC. 18.--The St. Anne, Brest to Maio, was strand .d yesterriay in Roequaine Bay. LOWFSTOFT, Dec. 19.—1 t blew a violent gale et W.N.W. to N.N.W. the whole of lest night.—There was a large fleet of vessels in Cartor Roads this morn• tog, and several drove foul of each other. The Cresswell Mid the Union have both been assisted in, with stern an , l quarters stove in. A number of vessels have parted and run to the southward. HARWICH, DEC. 19.—The Emma, Sunderland to Port›moutn, was in contact in the harbour yesterday, with the Sarah and Eliz 'bob of Goole, and received damage. NOTICE TO MARINERS. Crunstadt, Nov. 22, 1849. Sir,—We deem it necessary to draw the attention of the committee to the accompanying translations of two psragraphs that appeared in the St. Petersburgh papers, One published in 1841, and the other on the 12:h inst. By the former it app2art d to have been the intention of the Russian Government to rebuild the old wooden lighthouse on Vielsand (Filsant), and by the latter that such has not been the case, and that there will be only one on that island instead of two, uni that the present one is a revolviog light. (Signed) JOHN BOOKER and SON, Agents to Lloyd's. Capt. G. A. Halsted, R.N., Secretary, Lloyd's. Extract from the St. Petersburgh Papers, 1841: . _ " The Russi in Government, finding that the wooden lighthouse on the Island of Vielsand is in a dilapidated state, has elteided upon building a new one on the same Spot during 1841; and until it is finished, the fixed light on the rtone lighthouse will be changed to a revolving light, which will show two minutes, and be dark one Minute. _ "This alteration will enable the masters of ships better to distinguish this light from those on the Island of Dago and on Svalfersort." Extract from the Journal de St. Petersburg, of Nov. 12,1849, No. 968 : " NOTICE.—INPORTANT TO NAVIGATORS.—In the month of February, 1841, an advertisement appeared in the St. Petersburgh papers, stating that of the two Light Houses existing on the Island of Vielsand (Filsant) in the Baltic, the wooden olie was taken down in conse• Suence of its being in a dilapidated state, and that instiad of the two fixed lights formerly placed on Vit 1- •and, there will only be one revolving light on the att ne light-house, which will show a light two minutes and be dark one minute. "Whereas many of the charts with which merchant vessels are supplied continue to indicate that there are two light houses on the Island of Vielsand, the Hydro graphic Department of the Minister of Marine consider it necessary to draw the attention of navigators to the fact that there is only one light house on this island, and that'is the stone one, and that the wooden one formerly situated seventy fathoms to the north of the former, was Pulled down in 1841, and must, therefore, be erased from the marine charts. MARKET NE WS.-( THIS DAY.) _ NEV7GATZ_ AND LEADENELILLZ. Large supplies of each kind of meat for Christmas consumption wore on sale to-day; yet the general de mand ruled steady at full prices. Beef, from 2s 8d to 3 3 10d ; Mutton, 3s od to 4s 03; Veal, 3s 4d to 4s Od; and Pork, 2s 10d to 4s ad per Sibs, by the carcase. SAY MAR.METS. SMITHFIELD.—Meadow Hay, 21 8s to 3Z 105; Clover ditto, 81 Os to 41 85 ; and Straw, 11 2s to 1/ 8s per load. A moderate supply ; trade very dull. CUMBERLAND.—Meadow Hay, 218 s to 31 10s; Clover ditto, 3/ Os to 4/ 6s ; and Straw, 11 3s to 11 9s per load. Supply tolerably good, and trade dull. WHITECHAPEL. Meadow Hay, 21 8s to 31 10s; Clover, ditto, 31 Os to 41 10s; and Straw, 1/ 2s to 1/ 9 s per load. Both Hay and Straw moved off slowly, at late rates. MEAT MAIMETS. SOUTHALL, DEC. 19.—Our market was well supplied and a good business was doing on the follow ,ng terms:—Beet; from 3s 6d to 4s 4d; Mutton, 36 6d to 4s 4d; Veal, 3s 4d to 3s 10d; and Pork, 3s 4d to 3s 10d per 81bs, to sink the offal. ROMPORD, DEC. 19.—Prime Beasts and Sheep com manded a steady sale at full prices. In other kinds of stock only a moderate business was transacted. Beef, from as 4d to 4s 6d; Mutton, 3s 4d to 4s 4d; - Veal, 3s 6d to 3s 10d ; and Pork, 33 4d to 3s 10d per 81bs. Suckling Calves, 18s to 245; Quarter•old Store Pigs, 16s to 214 ; and Milch Cows with their small Calf, 161 to 181 each. lIAILSHAM, DEC. 19.—The general trade ruled firm, and prices were on the advance. Beef from 3s 8d to 441 6d; Mutton, 3s 10d to 4s Gd ; Veal, 3s 6d to 3s 10d; and Pork, 3s 6d to 3s 81 per 81bs. ARUNDEL, DEC. 18.—Our market was firm at very full prices. Beef from 3s 6d to 4* 8d; Mutton 3s 8d to 4s 6d; Veal, 3s 4d to 3s 8d; and Pork, 3s 4d to 3s 10d per 8113 s. CHICHESTER. DEC. 19.—We bad a very steady trade, on the following terms :—Bef from 3* 6d to 43 8d; Mutton, 33 4d to 4s 4d; Veal, 3s 4i to 33 6d; and Pork, 31 4d to 3* 10d per Blbs. Sucking Calves, 18s to 255; Quarter-old Store Pigs, 163 to 213; and Mikh Cows, with their small Calf, 151 to 181 each. CORN AVERAGES. GENERAL AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH CORN Por the Week ended Dec. 13. 1849, made up from the Returns of the Inspectors in the different Cities and Towns in England and Wales Per Imperial Quarter. 1 I whEAT.II.IIIILIT. OATS. EU. BIANS. I FBA,. PRICE .. 1 88 s 9d 1 1 26s 9d l 16s 3d 22s Gd 1 27s 8d I2Bs led DUTIES ON FOREIGN CORN. IMBAT. I EARLEY. I OATS. I ITC 1 "A". PEAS. is Od Is Od is Od is Od is Od Is Od SHERIFFS' COURT.-(THIS DAY.) (Before Mr. Under-Sheriff BURCHELL HODGES V. HODGES. This was an inquiry, under a writ of outlawry, to as certain of what property defendant was possessed within the bailiwick of the Sheriff of Middlesex. The facts were these .—The plaintiff is a Miss Alice Hodges, daughter of Mr. Thomas Hodges, deceased, and defendant is her uncle. Plaintiff had lent defendant a certain sum of money, not mentioned, and an action was brought to recover it back; but defendant could not be served with a writ, being out of the kingdom, and was consequently outlawed. On the part of the plaintiff, it was alleged that defendant was entitled to the half share of a leasehold house, No. 147, Oxford-street, to the ex tent of 61/.101. per annum, and ground-rents at Knights bridge for 181. a year. Mr. Perkins was called, and proved that he was tenant of the house in Oxford-street, at a rent of 200 L per year (subject, however, to aground-rent of 731). The UNDER- SHERIFF raid the plaintiff was entitled to PIA a value on the rent for the term of the lease. The plaintiff's counsel said he was not prepared to prove that, but would take the annual value. A witness was called, who proved the payment of the ground-rents to Mrs. Hodges, but no direct authority was shown from the defendant for her to do so; and it was proved that a separation had taken place between her and her husband. The Learned UNDER SHERIFF said it might be that the rents were received by her under a deed of separa tion; but in directing the jury he said they could return a verdict that the property belonged to the defendant, and no injustice would be done, as all parties would be enabled to support their rights hereafter. A sp-cial verdict was given in accordance with the evidence. DRAPER V. ADDISON. THE CHOLERA AND THE FRUIT TRADE.—The plain tiff is a fruit salesman in Covent-garden Market, and defendant is a fruiterer at Berwick-upon-Tweed, and the action was brought to recover the sum of 1091. 143. sid. Defendant had signed a judge's order admitting the debt, and in their correspondence they attributed their inability to pay to the losses during the prevalence of the cholera. A verdict was given for the plaintiff. KNIGHT V. STONE. The plaintiff in this action sued as public officer of the Wallingford Branch of the Burks Union Banking Com pany, to recover the sum of 1531. 16s. 7d., a balance cn an overdrawn account. Defendant, who is a farmer in the neighbourhood, suf f*red judgment to go by default. There was a claim for 21. 10s. sd. for interest. One of the bank clerks proved that it was customary to charge interest under such circumstances, and defen dant was aware of it. A verdict was then given for 1561. 6s. 10d. TURNER V. FISHER. This was an action to recover 51. on a bill of exchange, and there were no less than seven pleas put on the record, but on the plaintiff's counsel stating that they Only went for 31., and evidence being adduced. Defendant's counsel sad, if that sum only had been asked, the action would not have been defended, The UNDER-SIILRITT considered it was not quite right to bring an action for a larger amount than was redly sought to recover. Mr. PRENTICE, for the plaintiff, said, another party had an interest on the bill, and he considered that he Was acting as trustee, and bound to bring an action for the full amount. BANKRUPTCY.—(THIS DAY.) (Before Mr. Commissioner PANE.) IN RE BODGE. This bankrupt had carried on business as a draper at Yarmouth, and now came up for his certificate. The balance sheet showed debts to the extent of 2,0001., and assets about 5001. Mr. HAnnwxcit (Hardwick and Davison) opposed, on the ground that the bankrupt, having called a meeting of creditors in 1848, had suppressed the fact that he owed 400/. to the trustees of his wife, under a marriage set tlement. Mr. LAWRANCE supported the bankrupt, and con tended that at the time of the meeting the bankrupt had a surplus after paying 20 3. in the `pound; and that, it being a meeting of trade creditors, it was not neces sary for him to go into private matters. His HONOUR considered that the statement made by bankrupt to the creditors was not an unreserved state- Tent of his affairs; and, therefore, suspended the cer tificate for twelve mouths from the date of the fiat. ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS.—At a meeting of the council, on Tuesday evening, the following gentle men were admitted members o' the col!ege:—Thomas B. Powell, Knaresborough, York; John Gaman, Ham bledon, Hants; David A. Douglas, Belfast; David H. Itmekton, Brenchl,y, Kent; Edward S. Cleveland. Trichinopoly, Madras; Wiliiatn B. Mathias, Dublin; George H. Bailey, London; John W. D. Brown, Vic tualling-yard, Deptford; and Cornelius Hanbury, Stoke 144)wington. THE gtr N' t tiONDO W s TITTIRSDAY niEcnmnnit 26 3 Irk!). CRIMINAL COURT.--THIS DAY.) OLD C:0 UR7'. (Before Mr. Justice COLERIDGE and Mr. Baron ROLFE A respectably attired man, named Hugh Swan, aged 38, described as a draper, was indicted for a mis demeanour. Mr. Clarkson, with whom was Mr. Huddlestene, appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. James and Mr. Parry for the defence. Mr. Cr.aartsoN stated the case. The indictment, he said, was preferred under the 56th Vic. chap. 102, sec. 34 and 35, commonly known as the New Bankruptcy Act; the first-named section provided that any party in a state of bankruptcy destroying any papers and documents, or altering any of his books and accounts, wi.h the view of deceiving or cheating his creditors within three months previously to the issuing of a fiat in bankruptcy against him, should Le deemed guilty of a misdemeanour, and upon convic tion liable to be imprisoned for a period not exceeding three years. The second-named section enacted that any party obtaining credit within a certain period before his bankruptcy, with the same intent as in the previous instance, should be deemed guilty of a mis demeanour, and upon conviction liable to be impri soned for a period not exceeding two years. The defendant in this case was a linendraper, who formerly carried on business in Hanway-court, Oxford-street, and High street, Camden-town, and the facts which it was proposed to prove against him had been gathered from his own lips. It would be shown almost beyond a doubt that he had destroyed memoranda having reference to goods which were in his possession, with intent to defraud his creditors. The fiat issued against him on the 28th April in the present year, but by the declaration of the defendant it would seem that his affairs had been going wrong ever since he had corn• silenced business. In the month of September, 1848, or thereabouts, however, the defendant made the acquaintance of a man named Burton, who would be called as a witness. This Burton lived in the Broad way, Fleet-street, where he carried on the business of an auctioneer, and the defendant had from time to time been in the habit of forwarding to him large quantities of goods to be disposed of without reserve. He made certain memoranda of the goods sold in this way, and received certain account sales in return with the amounts the goods fetched ; but by his own confession it would be shown that he had destroyed these, and it would be the duty of the jury to decide whether or no he did so for the purpose of defrauding his creditors. That was the offence to be urged against the defendant under the first-mentioned section of the Bankruptcy Consolidation Aet. 'With regard to the second offence it would be brought before the Court in this way. In the month of March, of the present year, the buyer of the defendant applied to Messrs. Porson and Co., warehousemen, to sell the defendant a certain quantity of goods, but Messrs. Porson and Co. declined to sell the goods until Mr. Porson had seen the defendant upon the subject. Mr. Port on saw the defendant accordingly, when he represented that his affairs were as flourishing then as they were in 1847, when he made a large pur chase of another representative of .Messrs. Person and Co's. house, in fact that he was 1,5001. better than solvent, and upon the strength of this declaration he was supplied with goods to the extent of 1001. This, the jury would observe was in March; in the following month the defendant became a bank rupt. The goods sold on this occasion by Messrs. Porson and Co. had not been traced since the issue of the fiat, nor could any papers or accounts be found in the possession of the defendant having reference to them ; but it had been ascertained that in the same month of March Burton sold for him, in the manner already described, 1,0001. worth of goods, while by the declaration of the bankrupt himself it appeared that in all Burton had sold for him about 20 parcels of goods within 18 months prior to the issue of the fiat, 3001. or 7001. worth of which having been so disposed of between the Ist of March and the 28th of April, 184 g. It would be shown that the goods sent in this way were in the same condition as when the defendant received them from his creditors, and it was therefore quite clear that the sales between March and April consti tuted an offence under the second-named section of the Act of Parliament. The issuing of the fiat was then proven, as well as the adjudication under ; but, upon cross-examination, it turned out that the examination of the bankrupt was taken in private, and not before a Commissioner. The bankrupt, moreover, was examined without any previous caution, that what he should say would be taken down in writing, and might be used against him in a court of law. Mr. JAMES, under these circumstances, objected to the admission of the proceedings as evidence, on the ground that the examination had not been taken before a Commissioner, as the Act of Parliament pro vided, to whom any objection could have been made of illegality of particular questions ; and, secondly, because the examination was of a compulsory charac ter, and it would, therefore, be opposed to the first principle of evidence to admit it as evidence against the examinant. Mr. Justice Pattison had laid it down that a bankrupt's balance-sheet could not be received as evidence to establish a criminal charge against him, En I here the case was much stronger, since the Court were aware that in the examination of a bankrupt the examinant was forced to answer the questions put to him under pain of certain penal ties. In point of fact, the bankrupt was a quasi criminal, for his refusal to answer any of the in quiries put to him would have subjected him to be punished in various degrees at the discretion of the Court of Bankruptcy. Mr. Justice COLE-RIDGE intimated to the Learned Council for the prosecution, that the Court would no trouble him to reply to the first point, inasmuch as the examination in this instance was not of a char acter likely to make out an offence of perjury against the exatninant, and hence supposing a caution had not been given, which did not appear to be the case, it was by no means certain that any was necessary. Mr. CLARKSON contended that there was evidence of abundant caution, but, after the intimation of his Lordship, he would proceed at once to the considera tion of the point that this examination could not be admitted as evidence, since it had been taken in a compulsory manner. He insisted that the examina tion of a hankrupt was not of a compulsory nature; on the contrary, it was free and voluntary, and the strongest evidence of this was the fact that bankrupt's attorney was present to caution him not to answer questions that were calculated to criminate himself or bring him into trouble, or in any way to militate against his own interest. The COURT overruled the second objection, and allowed the examination to be received, hampered with a note of the objection and facts, to be hereafter embodied in a case for the opinion of the Criminal Court of Appeal. Evidence was then put in to support the opening statement of the Learned Counsel, a witness being called to prove that at a meeting of the defendant's creditors, on the 18th of April, the defendant, in the presence of his own solicitor, admitted that he had sent goods to Burton's, probably as many as 20 parcels, in the preceding 8 months ; and that he de stroyed the accounts of the sales, and the memoranda relating to the goods, as he re ceived them from the auctioneer. He further admitted that the statement he made to Messrs. Porson and Co. in the previous months, of his assets exceeding his liabilities by 1,5001., was purely ficti- A statement was put in which had been ex- ions. tracted from the defendant's books, from which it appeared that from August, 1847, when the defen dant commenced business, down to and including March, 1849, his purchases of goods amounted to 8 267/. He had obtained goods besides this to the extent of 3021., which were not entered in the books. In the first month, namely, August, 1847, the pur chases amounted to only 851.; but in the last, nam e ly, March, 1849, they amounted to 1,6071. At the period of his failure, the defendant's liabilities amounted ,to 4,4001., and his assets to 1,3881. and costs. It was elicited, however, in cross-examination, that the defendant had offered his creditors no ob struction in ascertaining the state of his affairs, while on several occasions he stated that he had sold the goods through Burton, to obtain funds to meet his engagements with Messr s . P orson an d C o. an d o th er houses in the City and that he had lost as much as 700/. by one of his two shops, which he had held jointly with a person named Smart. (The case had not closed when our report left.) BOW-STREET.—(THIS DAY.) William Fairchild, a veterinary surgeon, and Charles Waller, an omnibus proprietor, were charged as fol lows: It appeared that the prisoners and others went into the Montmouth Arms, Charles-street, Westminster, and ' regaled themselves with several glasses of brandy and water, and smoking cigars. Their score amounted to ss. 6d., which they refused to pay, and left the house. The prisoners were follows d by the landlord's son, who asked them for the money. 1 hey refused to give it him, and then pushed him away. The prisoners pro• ceeded along the streets, pu.hing against every re spectable female they met; and on arriving opposite the Treasury, they commenced shouting most boisterously. They were then taken into custody. Mr. HALL fined them each 20s. for disorderly conduct in the street, and gave them the alternative, either of paying the ss. 6d. to the landlord of the Monmouth Arms, or of being convicted of the assau lt. The prisoners immediately paid the ss. 6d., and also their fines. MARLBRU-STREET-(THIS DAY.) THE EFFECTS OF THE BOTTLE.---Caroline Garland, a woman of dissipated appearance, wa, chaigtql betore Mr. Bingham, with beiLg drunk, and assaulting Mr. Charles Wright, licensed victualler, 18, Union-street, Middlesex Hospital. Complainant stated that about half-past twelve o'clock last night, he was shutting up his shop, when the de fendant came tip and tried to force her way into the house. Observing that she was ict fluor he refused to allow her to enter. She then began to abuse him, and eventually struck him a tremendous blow on tlal fnce. He detained her until a constab:e came up, when he gave her in charge. It was stated that the prisoner's friends are highly respectable, but in consequence of her addiction to the bottle, they had disc,:trduct her. The prisoner, who has been at this court at least 90 times for being drunk, was fined 205., and in default ; to be committed for a month. AN IMPUDENT THIEF.— WM. Davis was charged with stealing from the shop of Mr. Thorp, dreper, 50, Brewer-street, three boas, value 9s. About dusk last evening, the prisoner was seen by the prosecutor to enter his shop and look at some boas which were lying on the counter, close by the door. Thinking no one w.ts watching him, he snatched up the three boss produced, and ran off, closely pursued by the prosecutor, who overtook him in Windmill-street, and gave him in charge. The prisoner was fully committed. AN UNLUCKY REFLECTION.— John Young, a well known thief, was brought before Mr. Bingham, charged with stealing a looking- glass, value 165., the property of Mr. George Lees, upholsterer, 230, Regent-street. Frederick Evans, clerk to the prosecutor, said last night, about seven o'clock, he was in his employer's shop, when he heard the shop door open very gently and im mediately close again. On his going to the door to see who was there, he caught tight of the prisoner, who was walking down the street with the glass under his srm. Directly the prisoner discovered that he was pur sued he run off as fast as he could, followed by witness, who called out "Stop thief." After a sharp chase the prisoner was eventually stopped, and handed over to the tender care of a constable Rho happened to pass at the time. The prisoner, in defence, denied stealing the glass, and said a person gave it to him to carry into Oxford street, and he was to have sixpence for the job. Mr. Evans said he was positive prisoner was the man who stole the glass ; in fact he saw the reflection of his face in the gla s, therefore there could not be any mis take as to the prisoner's identity. The MA.OISTRATE thought it was an unfortunate re flection for the prisoner, and committed him for trial.; BENEYOLENCE.—Our reporter was requested to ac knowledge the receipt of 21. from J. H. H., per Messrs. Gosling and Co., for the poor-box, and the halves of two N. notes for the use of this and nine other police courts. BRITISH PLIILANTUROPLC PENSION SOCIETY.— Last evening a quarterly general meeting of this society took place at the house of Mr. Titchiner, the Red Lion Tavern, Fenchureh-street, for the purpose of transacting the affairs of the society. Peter Morison, Esq., the president of the society, was called to the chair; and amongst the friends of the society present were Mr. L. More, Mr. W. Fell, Mr. Browne, &c. The of jest of the society is to give to pensioners of both sexes, of at least sixty years of age, a weekly pension, and as a proof of the value of the society, it net d only be mentioned that, since its estddishruent, in 1838, the relief afforded to a limited number of pensioners amounted to 1,1351., and that the expenses incidental to the carrying on of the society amounted to the inconsiderable sum of 144/ The president, vice-president, and the committee of management were re elected; and it appearing that one vacancy had occurred, it was resolved that, as the funds were in a healthy state, two l emioners should be ad mitted as recipients of the funds of the institution, the election in respect to whom should take place on the 6th of February next. The Chairman, in the course of the evening, intimated that the Rev. Richard Lee, Rector of Stepney, would shortly preach a sermon in aid of the funds of the institution, and much good v.as anticipated frt,na this kind act on the part of the Rev. Gentleman. In addition to the usual weekly al• lowance granted to the pensioners, it was proposed to give them a sum of money from the funds to enable them to obtain increased comforts at this festive season of the year ; and to enhance this benefit the members of the society present contributed a further sum. Thanks were given to the chairman, and the meeting separated. SAVINGS' BANKS.—By the last Savings' Banks Act (passed 9th August, 1844,) it is provided that depo sitors shall, once in every year, cause their deposit-books to be produced at the bank for the purpose of being examined. In consequence of the Rochdale sad affair, the National Debt Commissioners have issued a circular to the trustees of all banks for savings, suggesting the propriety of advertising for depositors to produce their duplicates at the bank where they have invested, in order to their being compared with the ledgers of the insti tution. Wherever it has happened, that managers—one manager at least—have not regularly attended on the banking days, then it would be well to make comparison of the duplicates with the ledgers, but where the attendance of a manager has been regularly given, he would, of course, see the balance of each day was paid over to the treasurers ; then the plan just suggested need not be acted upon, inasmuch as it must be clear no fraud can have been committed. DISSOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT.—MUTING OP PROTECTIONISTS AT Caaexaoox.—Yesterday afternoon a meeting was held under a largo marquee, erected in the Bowling-green, Cranbrook, tor the purpose of pe titioning her Majesty to dissolve her present Perlis- went. Press of matter prevents us from reporting the proceedings at length. Earl Stanhope presided, and concluded a long speech by calling upon the meeting to address the Queen with a view to a dissolution of Parliament, and if that did not succeed in getting them protection, he would then take upon himself the responsibility of the course which he was sure would be successful.—(Hear, hear.) The Rev. William Smith Marriott moved—" That all those' who are engaged in any branch of British industry have as undoubted right to demand that it shall be fully and effec tually protected against foreign competition in the markets of this country, and that if such protection I should not be restored. it would be indispensably neces sary to reduce all public and private payment in propor tion to the fall of prices." Mr. J. Osborne moved the next resolution—" That it is expedient requisitions be made to the High Sheriff, requesting him to convene on an early opportunity a county meeting, for the purpose of addressing her N: ujesty on the present alarming con dition of the country, and of entreating her Majesty to dissolve forwith the present Parliament, which no longer deserves or enjoys the confidence of the country." These resolutions having been carried, as well as some others of a routine character, it was stated by several of the speakers that they were determined to call upon the Members to resign who would not assist them to regain protection. THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.—With a view to raise the standard of professional education, the Council of the Royal College of Surgeons have decided that in future candidates for the fellowship of the institution shall undergo additional examinations in mathematics and the Greek, Latin, and French languages. In pro secution of this desirable object the Council have just elected Mr. George Gabriel Stokes, M.A., of Pembroke College, Cambridge, an examiner in mathematics ; Mr. Godwin Smith, M.A., of University College, Oxford, examiner in classics ; and Professor Brasseur, of King's College, London, examiner in the French language. The Council have also:elected Mr. Csesar Henry Haw kins, surgeon of St. George's Hospital, to a seat at the Court of Examiners, in the vacancy occasioned by the decease of Mr. John Goldwyer Andrews, late of the London Hospital. This election causes a vacancy in the office of examiner in surgery at the London University. THE EX-KING OF THE FRENCH.—BIRMINGHAM, WEDNESDAY.—Louis Philippe, the ex-King of the French visited Sir Robert Peel at Drayton Manor yes terday. He arrived at the Tamworth station about two o'clock, where he was received by the Right Hon. Baronet, Lady Peel, and the younger members of the family. The ex-King returned from Tamworth to Drayton, to which he was accompanied by Sir Robert and his family, between five and six o'clock. He was loudly cheered at the station. GREAT SLAUGHTER AT LOUTH.—On Friday last, e-r. Valentine Fell, poulterer, of Louth, assisted by 45 persons, commenced his annual slaughtering of poultry for the London Christmas market. No fewer than 4,000 geese, which had been for seven weeks in the stubbles on a farm at Withcall, and which were after wards penned and fattened at a farmstead at Monk's dyke, as well as 1,500 ducks, turkeys, and fowls, com prised the number to be slaughtered. They were all consigned to Leadenhall-market, and were calculated to weigh upwards of 30 tons. Many of the geese were of a remarkably large kind, and weighed from 161 b. to 201 b. each. The weekly consumption of corn by this immense flock, belonging to a single poulterer, has been no less than 110 quarters.—Boston Herald. THE EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE CONDITION THN PEOPLE.—Great efforts to ameliorate the condition and raise the character of the working classes are, undeniably, being made in England at this moment, and will, there is every reason to believe, ultimately effect much good. The direction which these effoits are taking seems a right one, and if those whom it is sought to benefit embrace warmly and ingenuously the means which are offered to them, and striv e v i gorous l y t o e l eva te them selves, the most important results to all classes of society will follow, and in a rapidly increasing ratio. Without their own co - operation—(self-discipline and education, the acquirement of habits of regularity and foresight)— nothing effectual will be done : with it, and extended knowledge, on the part of the upper classes, of our mutual duties and rights, it is scarcely possible to say bow much.—Builder. — THE LAP or LUXURY. - Luxury is generally sup posed to be a very comfortable, as well as a very capa cious lap, and, like an omnibus, there seems to be always room for ono more, as if the taking up and set ting down were so frequent as to admit of a place being always ready for a new occupant. We are afraid, how ever, that Luxury has not been a careful nurse lately, for several have tumbled out of her lap who had long been accustomed to lie in it. The railway mania caused many a lapsus from this desirable lap, and the fortunes are numerous which have become so de-lap-idated, that their former owners have been pitched completely out of the lap they have been accustomed to. For the wound inflicted by a downfal from such laps as these, the lapse of time furnishes the only remedy.—Punch. THE CHOLERA. IN RUSSIA.—A letter from St. Petersburgh, of December 4, says—" At present the cholera has ceased to exist in European Russia, except on some points of the Baltic, but there it has lost all its epidemic character. The last invasion of the disease in this country has not lasted less than three whole years, during which time it has attacked 1,686,849 persons, and carried off 668,012. At St. Petersburgh, where the population is 450.000, the number of cases was 22,022, and of deaths 12,228 ; at Moscow, with 3b3,000 inhabitants, the cases were 16,248, and the deaths 8,025. In Russia the disease this time followed the same course as in 1831 and 1832, that is, from south to north, and from east to west. It made greatest ravages in low marshy grounds, and was generally preceded by dysen tery and intermittent fever. It has been observed that those districts which were most severely visited in 1831 and 1132 lave suffered less on the present occasion." OVERLAND MAIL INDIA AND CHINA. We have received dispatches in anticipation of the Overland Mail. We have intelligence from Delhi of the date of the Bth ult.; Calcutta, the 8:h ; Madras, the 14th ; and Bombay, the 17th. The papers report " uninterrupted quiet in India." The Governor General WAS expected at Lahore. Sir C. Napier arrived at Delhi on the 30th ult., on , his tour of inspection. A guard of honour was in attendance to receive him, but the gallant Commander in-Chief dispensed with this ceremonial. The Indian papers complain of his neglect of form and state, and insist that a more imposing progress would give him greater hold upon the native mind. Sir Charles had departed for Agra. The Madras Overland Athenceim, after stating that the Governor- General was to proceed ultimately to Bombay by sea, says— " His Lordship's health is not of the best order, and if nut renovated by the proposed trip, it is rumoured, though we cannot find any good authority for the report, that he will proceed from Bombay home. About Sir Charles Napier's return to England in the early part of next year there seems to be little doubt; as we stated in our last overland' Sir W. Gomm is generally talked of here as his probable successor." The Bombay Telegraph says : " The Marquis of Dalhousie and Sir C. Napier are expected at Kurrachee about the close of the year, and the Hon. Company's steamer Feroze—which is to be taken out of the line of packets and made a frigate for the occasion—is to leave for the above port abcut the 15th inst., in order to be at the disposal of his Lordship and his distinguished companion. It will de pend mainly on the state of health in which Lord Dal housie reaches the ' maritime capital,' of Young Egypt, whether he will repair at once to Suez on his way to England, or pay his promised visit to the Western Presidency. Sir C. Napier, we believe, certainly goes home; but should the Governo r -G enera l resolve to visit Bombay, he will no doubt accompany him. Sir Wil loughby Cotton, who, according to report, was to have left us last month, is still lingering here, and it is hoped may be appointed to succeed the hero of Meanee on his retirement from the high pest of Commander-in-Chief iii India." The weather at Madras was most unseasonable, the heat being oppressive, and very little rain having fallen. The crops were suffering from drought. Sir Henry Lawrence is on a visit to his Highness of Cashmere, for the purpose, it is said, of talking over certain agricultural and governmental refortns that it is desirable should be adopted. Major Her bert Edwardes, with Major Nicholson, was leaving Lahore for Bombay, via the Sutlej and Indus, with one year's lea ye to England. Some further reference is made to the seizure of the Seikh chieftains, who, at the conclusion of the last campaign, had been permitted to retire to their respective villages under pledges of good behaviour. The Madras paper from which we have already quoted, says— " They will probably be transferred ultimately to safe keeping on this side the Sutlej. With their imprison ment the last embers of disaffection are trodden out in the country of the Five Rivers; and so certain ap. pears the prospect of continued tranquillity that the Go- vernor General has withdrawn the order prohibiting the female relatives of offical and soldiers from going beyond Lahore." With regard to Gholab Singh's part in this affair, the version generally credited was that he had dis closed the purposed treachery and plot to the British authorities. From Hyderabad we learn that the contingent had not been paid fora month and a half; and specula. tions were current on the probability of the Com pany's Government taking territory to provide for the pay of this force, which costs the Nixam some 40 lacs of rupees a year. The order for the distribution of six months' batta to the troops who took part in the Punjaub campaign has at length been issued; it is to be payable on and after the Ist of January, 1850. An order which had been issued by the local Go vernment to discontinue the experimental cultivation of cotton by Dr. Wright, in Coimbatora and Tinne velly, at the expense of the Government, and been withdrawn in consequence of fresh instructions from the Court of Directors, and Dr. Wight had been in structed to remain at his post, and carry on further operations. At Calcutta we are told— " Investigations into the official conduct of Govern ment servants is still the order of the day. Mr. Welby Jackson, one of the Judges of the Sudr Court, has been appointed by Government to investigate charges of a very serious character brought by Mr. Cruise, an indigo planter, against Mr. Pringle, the Session Judge, and Mr. Pearson, the magistrate of Purueah. Mr. Henry Palmer, also, the superintendent of stamps, is undergo ing a prosecution in the Allpore Court on the following charges:—viz., that Mr. Palmer wrote to Raja Satto Churn Gbosal on the 18th of February, 1849, offering any appointment in the Stamp-office to any one who would assist him with 45,000 rupees; that in April or May last, ho intimated to one Rada Madub Mookerjea that the loan of 30,000 rupees was necessary as a condition to a nomination to the office of tavildar of stamps; that he entered into joint pecuniary transactions with a subor din tte officer in his department, viz., Doorga Persaud Mookerjea, and the tavildar, for the purpose of raising loans for his own benefit, or that of Doorga Persaud Mookerjea ; and that on the 2d of August, 1847, be, jointly with Doorga Persaud Mookerjea, borrowed 500 rupees from one Byrub blunder Pautit, upon a promis sory note, %+ hich was renewed in favour of the same party for 4,000 rupees, on the 11th of May, 1848.'" Sir T. Turton had filed his schedule in the Insol vent Court for 12 lacs of rupees, three-fourths of the amount being composed of his official liabilities. The Chief Justice had refused his application for a protec tion from arrest. Colonel Pew, chief debtor of the Benares Bank, has also applied, but more successfully, for the benefit of the Act. Colonel Walpole had been appointed to the com mand of the southern division, in succession to General Gibson. Mr. T. H. Davidson, Registrar of the Sudr Court, had been appointed Judge of Com baconum ; and Mr. G. T. Beauchamp, who was offi ciating iu the latter capacity, had taken Mr. David son's place in the Sudr. It was stated that Mr. S. C. Bayley had been appointed to succeed Mr. Melvill, as tinder-Secretary to the Government of India with the Governor-General. Captain C. Mackenzie, com manding 4th S. L. 1., had been appointed a Briga dier in the Nizam's service. Major Cooke, of the 17th Regiment, had been, by sentence of court-mar tial, dismissed the Company's service. The business transacted in imports, piece goods in par • ticular, owing to large arrivals of suitable Manchester fabrics, has been to a considerable sxtet t, and the prices have been supported. Cotton yarns have been sold at about the same rates as reported in our las , . Metals have not varied much in price. Cotton-Maintains its value. Money-Plentiful. Freights-31. ss. Exchange-10s. tell Money Market-There are no spriptoms of money becoming less plentiful than it has been for some time past. As the season advances, and when the new opium arrives more freely, money will of course be in greater request than it is at present, but we have no apprehen sions of a scarcity. Shares-Bombay Bank Shares are still low; but, as we have heard of no transactions under 18 per cent. premium for some days, it may reasonably be presumed that they have reached a turning point, and that they will not go lower. Sales of Orientals have been taking place at 18i and 184 per cent. discount, and of Commer cials at 134 per cent. dis. Agras may be quoted at 5 per cent. discount; but we hear of no sellers at that price. Colaba Land and Press Shares still maintain their value. Freights-Large purchases of Cotton having taken place after the arrival of last mail, and tonnage being somewhat scame, rates of freight to London and Liver pool advanced to 3/. 10s. and 3/. 12s. 6d. About the be ginning of this week, however, arrivals became all at once very numerous, and to-day we cannot quote rates higher than as follows:-To London, 31. 55.; to Liver- pool, 31. 55.; to tho Clyde, 31. is. 6d.; to China, 12 rupees; to alcutta, 350 rupees. Exchange-Bills have not been much wanted for this steamer, and sellers have in consequence been obliged to lower their prices. The Oriental Bank has been drawing at Is. 104 d. we hear, and we quote that as the rate for other first class six months' sight paper. Cotton Piece Goods-Owing to the arrival of six vessels, namely, the William Wallace, the William Penn, the Huma)oon, the John Bull, the Hope, and the Jhe lum, with a plentiful supply of Manchester goods, the market, for the last five or six days, has been very active. The Arabs and Persians have entered the market with great spirit, and, it will be perceived, have bought largely, giving very fair rates. We are informed that about 150,000 pieces of various descriptions of piece goods have been disposed of within the last ten days. Cotton Yarns-We are informed that the sales of twist for the fortnight amount to from 1,000 to 1,200 bales mule and water. We observe that a slight advance has been obtained on the price of mule, while water has slightly declined in value. The stock of the former is very light, but of water there is a large quantity in the market. Woollens-There seems to be some demand for woollens of various sorts at present, bat the particulars of the sale have not been supplied to us. Metals-The demand for metals has not been very active during the month, but prices have not varied much. We observe that braziers' copper has declined about half a rupee per cwt. Sheathing has also cl , clined from 4to 6 annas. Tile has :experienced an ad vance of half a rupee also. British bar has risen a quarter of a rupee per cwt. Hoop has not changed in value. Pig lead has been sold at from 10r. 6a. to 10r. 7a. Steel is quoted at about the same rate as in our last. Spirits-The only sales we have heard of are:- 11. A. 24 hhds. of brandy ... ... 2 8 per gal. 24 quarter casks ditto ... ... 2 8 „ 10 hhds. of Batavia rum •1 12 „ Bottles-In these we hear of the following sales:- R.A. 53 gross of quart bottles ... 1 0 per doz. 83 do. of pint bottles ... 1 0 „ Cotton-The purchases of cotton, during the fort night, we learn amount to about 15,000 bales, at about the rates quoted in our last Price Current. The busi ness reported for publication, however, we subjoin. The probable yield of crop is still uncertain; the general opinion is that it will be rather a bad average crop. Per Candy. 500 Bales Dholera, at ... Rs. 93 0 500 - do. 95.8 250 - do. ••• ••• ••• ••• 90.8 250 - do. 97.8 1,000 - do. (deliverable within a month) 93.0 2,100 - do. do. do. 92.8 400 - Broach ... ... 91.0 530 - do. and Jumbooseer 97.0 500 - Surat and Jumbooseer ... 93.8 500 Candies Compta ... 87.0 500 - do. 87.8 600 - do. 89.8 250 - do. 97.4 200 - do. 89.0 600 - do. 89.8 500 - do. 87.8 800 - do. ..• ••• ••• 89.8 500 - do. 90.0 73 - Cutch ••• ••• ••• ••• 89.4 100 - do. 85.0 300 - Mangalore (all round) 84.4 100 - do. do. 83.8 100 - do. do. 88.0 400 - do. do. 87.8 100 - do. 88.0 125 - do. 83.8 50 - do. 84.0 500 - Jumbooseer ... 95.0 700 - Surat 97.4 Wool-About 100 to 125 candies of wool have changed hands at 120 rupees per candy. Mocha Coffee-We hear of a purchase of 1,800 cwt. at 7i to 8 rupees per cwt. Opium may be quoted at 1,250 to .1 275 rupees. The quality in the market is inferior, and the stock is small; probably there is not more than 400 chests. The new crop is now on its way to Bombay. Ivory-A purchase of 400 maunds of elephant's teeth (601 b. average) has been brought to our notice at 89 to 90 rupees. Pepper-The market is bare of Malabar quality, but there is no scarcity of Bhutcole, which is offered at 54 rupees per candy of 4 cwt. THE WELSH CHURCH. LETTEZ VI. TO THE EDITOR OF THE STLV SlR,—There always attaches to the disposal of C:urch patronage a very peculiar and grave rtspon. ,ibility, but as the bishop is in every case entitled to a final decision upon the fitness of each several clergyman for his office, the diocesan becomes in all cases accountable for the proper exercise of his con trolling power over such appointments to benefices. The responsibility attendant upon the possession of • Church patronage therefore, greatly enhanced when the bishop happens to combine in himself the perfectly distinct privileges of nomination and insti tution. The extensive, continuous, and shameless abuse of this concentrated power has fur ever disgraced the memory of our Anglo- Welsh bishops, and spread durable desolation through their dioceses, The 6th chapter of Sir 'Thomas Phillips's " Wales," (Parker, London, 1849,) comprites a great quantity of matter, collected from various sources, in order to exhibit a view of the present forlo7n condition of the Church in the Principality. Various instances of the continued prevalence of pluralities are cited there, and among them (at p. 216) is the fullowng °come. " St. Asaph.—A Deanery and a Chancel -I,rship A Rectory Hereford.—A Prebend.... 920 Iwo Rectories .. £3, 2 11" Sir Thomas Phillips abstains from mentioning the name of the English clergyman who possesses this monopoly ; but an almanac supplies that deficiency —" C. S. Luxmore, M.A., Dean of St. Asaph." The comprehensive and able "Essay on the Causes of Dissent in Wales," by A. J. Johnes, Esq., of Garthmyl, Montgomeryshire, (of which the last edi tion was published in 1832) has, at the present crisis of the Welsh Church's existence, a renewed and powerful claim upon the earnest attention of all who wish well to religion, to the Establishment, and to the Principality. Its premises are sound, its deductions correct, and its facts indisputable, while the evils which it exposes are still unremedied! In the summary of the state of the Church in North Wales, which closes the volume, and among the kinsmen of Bishops of St. Asaph enjoying exorbitant shares of Church preferment, to the impoverishment of the native Welsh clergy and the grievous detri ment of the Welsh people, occurs the following specimen of one, which is easily recognised as the identical instance previously adduced from Sir Thomas Phillips's softened statement : "C. S. Luxmore, Dean and Chancellor. llouse, &c., belonging to the deanery, 401. ; parishes of Henllan, 1,5001 ; St. Asaph, 426/. ' • Llan Nefydd, 300/. ; Llanfair Talhaiarn, 2201. ; Darowain, 1201. ; chancellorship, from fees, 4001.-3,006/. Besides the above, the Rev. Gentleman enjoys at least 600/. in this diocese (St. Asaph) as lessee under certain leases granted to him by his father, Dr. Luxmore (Bishop of St. Asaph) of tithes and manors belong. ing to the see. Be also owes to the seine patron the following preferments in Hereford diocese :—Cradley rectory, 1,200/. ; Brotnyard vicarage, 500/. ; Prebend of Hereford, 50/. ; portion of Bromyard vicarage, 501. at present, but on the expiration of a lease, dependent on a very old life, this preferment will be worth 1,4001. Thus the Rev. Gentleman is possessed of no less than eleven sources of emolument. The total value of all his Church preferments may be estimated at least at 6,356/." Sir T. Phillips derived his information on this sub ject from the reports of the Ecclesiastical Commis sioners • but the exposure which Mr. Horsman has made of the deceptive nature of the returns sent in to those Commissioners by yet higher Church digni taries, plainly shows the safety of inferring that the statement of Mr. Johnes is in this case far more trustworthy. The annual value of Church preferment still en joyed, in 1832, by connexions ,of Bishop Horsley is stated by Mr. Johnes at 2,690/ ; of Bishop Cleaver, 2,1261.; of Bishop Begot at 1,1001. These relatives of Anglo-Welsh Bishops, be it remembered, are all Englishmen, utterly anacquainted with the language of the country, destitute of the necessary qualifications for undertaking the poorest cure of souls there, and most of them absentees, committing pluralities of curacies to ill paid and discouraged hirelings ; thus offering to their parishioners a choice only between demo ralizing ignorance and the instructions of Dissenters. It was further estimated by Mr. Johnes (Essay p. 219) that the amount received from the single diocese of St. Asapb, by the Bishop and the re latives of former bishops alone could not be less than 23,6791.—a sum surpassing the income of all the other resident clergy put together ! Let the British public, therefore, judge whether \Vales has not good reason to protest against her English Hierarchy. Trusting that you will oblige me with space for a few more letters on the subject of the Welsh.Chureh, I am, Sir, &c., GORBONIAN. CLERKS AND ASSISTANTS. TO THE EDITOR OF TILE SUN. SIR,—In your paper of yesterday there appeared a letter signed "A Clerk," in which the writer laments the dissipation and profligacy which is to be found in that class of persons who come under the denomination of clerks and assistants ; this dissipatio❑ is indeed to be deplored, but I deny that it exists to the fearful extent described. It would appear from his letter that the young man are bodily proceeding upon a course which will plunge them into the depths of crime, and which must necessarily be fatal to every thing like morality. The substance of his arguments tend to depreciate the value of that excellent society the object of which is to shorten the hours of business. I hail the Early Closing Association as the instru ment in effecting a great moral reformation ; and surely the cry has been heard often enough from the opponents of early closing " that increased relaxation will afford increased facilities to young men to squander their own and their employers' property," without one of those whom this society struggles to benefit coming forward to re-echo this assertion. This gentleman appears to have entirely overlooked those Literary and Mechanics' Institutions in every part of our metropolis, numbers of which offer highly intellectual recreation at a less price than the fee he proposes for the use of reading-rooms. There is like wise an institution founded by the merchants of Lon don, as members of the Early Closing and Christian Instruction Associations, of the kind he describes, and which (if successful) they intend establishing in the various districts of the metropolis. I am one of those denominated assistants, and, as an indi vidual, perhaps one of the humblest of my class. I have seen the working of a system of early closing, and am prepared to state that in no single instance has the increased leisure thus afforded served to deteriorate the morals of any young man. I trust, for the honour of my country, and as a reward to those great and good men who have expended their lives in the furtherance of know , ledge and religion, that there is more inherent good principle and virtue in the sons of Britain than that they should allow themselves to be degraded in the manner described. If this fearful depravity exists, does it extend to young men in other classes of society ? Surely not ; and if not, is it not to be traced to that system which has served to enervate and sap the noblest principle in man's nature—his mind ? Free him a little from the trammels of basi -1 ness, allow the wings of thought to expand, and his mind soon finds for itself food congenial to its exalted nature. The hint held out by the writer of the article in question is worthy the attention of employers and employed, and it is to be hoped the young men of London will prove to their employers and the world that they are not insensible to the boon philanthropic individuals are conferring upon them. I trust these remarks will not be deemed personal, but a defence from one who, while he acknowledges the existence of vice, repudiates the idea of its univer sal extent. Trusting this imperfect letter may find its way to your columns, I remain, Sir, your most obedient servant, A DRAPER'S ASSISTANT. Dec. 19, 1849. PARLIAMENTARY AND FINANCIAL REFORM.—Last night a meeting was held in the new lecture hall, ad joining the Castle Hotel, Richmond, in furtherance of the above object; Mr. Whiteley, of the Vineyard, in the chair. Mr. Prout said that the principles of the Asso ciation to which be had the honour to belong embraced a Parliamentary Reform as a prelude to a Financial Reform, and the attainment of the latter could not be achieved until they had a Parliament constituted to carry out a system of retrenchment. He disliked an indirect taxation, but was in favour of a direct taxation, and then the people knew what it was for, and those that felt it most would be men of substance, who would do their best to reduce it; but this could not be done until there was an increase of independent voters and vote by ballot; and why should not Richmond as well as Westminster have its Member? Parliament should not last more than three years, and be would have no property quali fication. He had been a reformer for forty years, and he hoped and trusted he should die with the same prin ciples. After a vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting separated. It is stated that operations are to be resumed as soon as possible for the completion of the Great Russian Railway from St. Petersburgh to Moscow. The grading of the whole line is nearly finished, but the rails are laid only for a short distance—about eighteen miles. Mean while the residue of the iron is on the ground, together with the locomotives and carriages. The work has been delayed from the death of the principal engineer, whose place is now to be supplied by Major T. S. Brown, of the United States (the engineer of the Erie Rai'wit)), who has been engaged for five years at a salary 01 12,000 dolls. per annum. CANTON MARKET. HONG-KONG, OCT. 30.—The alight improvement in our import market noticed last month has not been maintained, and in many articles there has been a de cline, owing partly to the great scarcity of money. Cotton—About 9,000 bales have changed hands. Bombay is quoted st. sm. to 6t. Am.; Bengal, 7t. to Bt.; Madras, 7t. to Bt. 2m. The stock has accumulated to 97,000 bales, against 67,000 bales last year. Cotton Yarn—There has been very little inquiry, and prices are lower. We quote Nos. 16 to 24 at 22 dolls. to 23 dolls.; Nos. 28 to 32, 24} dolls. to 25 dolls.; Nos. 28 to 42, 24i dolls. to 25k dolls. The stock consists of 6,000 whole and 200 half bales, against 2,700 whole and 2,200 half bales last year. Long eotbs have declined, and the sales during the month have only been 28,000 pieces of gray and 3,000 pieces of whits.. Gray are quoted 2 dolls. to 2 dolls. 60c.; white, 2 dolls. 30c. to 2 dolts. 90c. Woollens—Sp. stripes, 85c. to 1 doll.; long-ells, as sorted, 7 dolls. 20c, t o 7 d o ll s . 40c.; scaret, 8 dolls. 20c. to 8 dolls. 30c.; eamlets, English, 18 dolls. to 21 dolls.; Dutch, 20 dolls. to 23 dolls. Iron as last quoted—nailrod, 3 dolls. to 3 dolls. 70c.; bar, 2 dolls. 20c. to 2 dolls. 70c.; hoop, 4 dolls. to 4 dolls. 10c. Steel, 4 dolls. 70c. to 4 dolls. 90c. Lead, 5 dolls. 70c. to 5 dolls. 90c. Tin plates, 12 dolls. Cochineal, 110 dolls. to 140 dolls. Turkey opium, 420 dolls. Tea—There has been a steady demand for black teas, and prices for congou have advanced 5 mace to a tael. Musters of the new green teas have arrived, but no set lements have been made. The quality is said to be in ferior to last season's. Exchange on England, 4s. 2d. for first class paper; bills with shipping documents, 4s. 3id. to 4s. 4d. On India Company's accepted bills, 215 to 216 per cent. Freights-31. 103., and looking down. From Shanghae we have letters to the 23d of Oc.. tober. Longcloths have been in fair demand, and are quoted 2 dolls. 10c. to 2 dolls. 650. for grays ' and 2 dolls. 30c. to 2 dolls. 65c. for white. The stock in first hands is estimated at 420,00 G pieces. Sp. stripes as sorted 80c. to 95c. Long-ells assorted 6 dolls. to 6% dolls., scarlet, 8 dolls. Camlets, English, 17 dolls. to 18 dolls., Dutch, 20 dolls. to 21 dolls. Tea—Considerable transactions in congou have taken place at 10 taels to 16 taels; some souchong settled at 13 taels to 16 taels, and a cop of Pekoe at 24 taels. Silk—Great difficulty was experienced in obtaining good quality, and there is no doubt now that the supply will be considerably short of last season, although at present the export is some what in excess, being 3,754 hales, against 3,488 bales last year. Prices are without change—viz., No. 1 and 2 tsatlee, 420 dolls. to 435 dolls.; No, 3, 320 dolls. to 345 dolls; common taysaam, 255 dolls. to 265 dolls.; fair to finest, 280 dolls. to 325 dolls. Exchange on England, 4s. 6d. to 4s. 7d. Freights, 3/. 10s. for tea, 41. for silk. ARRIVALS SINCE TUE DEPARTURE OF LAST MAIL FROM GREAT BRITAIN. October I.—Juliet, from London to Hong Kong. 11.—Euphrates, ditto ditto. 18 —John Banyan, ditto ditto. 19.—Ellen, ditto ditto. 21.—Hugh Walker, from Cork ditto. 21.—Buenos Ayrean, from Liverpool ditto. 23.—Queen, from London ditto. 23.—Eliza Killick, from Liverpool ditto. DEPARTURES. Oct. 4.—Sir H. Hardinge, for London from Hong Kong. 4.—Chulco, for Dublin ditto. - s.—Reindeer, for Liverpool from Whampoa. 22.—Sir T. Gresham, for London ditto. 24.—Sunda, ditto Hong Kong. LIBERATION Or CHARTIST PRlSONERS.—Yesterday afternoon three of the Chartist prisoners convicted at the Old Bailey in 1848 were liberated by order of the Secre tary of State for the Home Department from Horse monger•laße Gaol, where they have been incarcerated 14 months. Their names are William ;Poole, Thomas Irons, and Thomas Herbert. They were apprehended by Mr. Superintendent Butt, L division, and a body of police, in a public-Lowe in Webber-street, Blackfriurs road, armed with various weapons. For that offence they were tried at the Old Bailey sessions in October, 1848, and sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment in Horsemonger-lane Gaol, and at the expiration of that period to find good bail for their future conduct during 1 five years. Within the last six months they have ex pressed such contrition as to their offrnce that the Secre tary of State commuted their sentence to 14 months' imprisonment, which expired yesterday; and, the re quired sureties being approved by the Home Depart ment, they were ordered to be liberated. Yesterday afternoon they were brought to the Southwark Police 'court, by Mr. Keene, the Governor of the gaol, and the necessary formalities being gone through before the magistrate, they were immediately liberated, and were ' joined by their families and a number of anxious friends. CHINA. The following is a letter from Hong-Kong, dated Oct. 30 : " The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer I Pekin arrived here on the 20:h inst., bringing dates from England to the 24th of August. " We regret to have to announce the death of Rear- Admiral Sir Francis A. Collier, C. 8., Commender•in- Chief of her Majesty's naval force in the East. Sir Francis had been for some time in a precarious state, and within the last few days his health had given some un easiness to his medical advisers. The death, however, was unexpected. He died of apoplexy on the morning of the 28th inst., at the residence of Judge Hulme, where ho had been staying since his return to China. The mercantile community are under groat obligations to him for the ready protection ho at all times afforded to British commerce, and an address was handed to him only a few days age, thanking him for the energy dis played by him in the extirpation of piracy in these seas. " The vessels of war have been chiefly engaged this month in the suppression of piracy. Captain Hay, of her Majesty's brig Columbine; and Captain Wilcox, of her Majesty's steamer Fury, hare destroyed a formidable fleet of 30, with their dockyards, not more than 40 miles from this colony. The chief, Chui-Apoo, had, until lately, a manufactory of gunpowder on this island. He was also engaged iu the murder of Captain Da Costa and Lieutenant Dwyer, which took place in February last. The Columbine and Fury, along with the East India Company's steamer Phlegethon, were dispatched 14 days ago to tho west coast in search of the celebrated pirate chief, Chap-ing-tsai, and his formidable fleet, alluded to last month. The expedition has not yet returned, owing, probably, to the severe gales that have lately prevailed, and to the difficulty of discovering the pirates in their places of retreat. These piratical junks average 500 tous each, carry 12 to 18 guns, some of thorn 24-pounders, and chiefly of English manufacture. The pirates have hitherto always been the first to give a broadside; and they not only manage their guns well, but fight desperately. " The Chinese Government still retain the head and hand of the late Governor of Macao, on the plea that the three Chinese prisoners have not yet been released, which the Macao Government declines doing. " The accounts from Shanghae are to the 23d of October. The injury,done to the rice crop had not been so serious as was at one time expected. It is still:confidently stated that the crop of silk is short, and that the entire shipments for the season will not exceed 10,000 to 12,000 bales. The residents were suffering mach from fever, the effects of the previous inundation. Se7eral deaths had occurred. " The vessels of war in this harbour are her Majesty's ship Hastings, Captain Morgan, and sloop Royalist. The Medea steamer is at Whampol; the Pilot at Amoy; Arab at Ningpo; and Mariner at Shanghae. " The French vessel of war the Bayonnaise, and the American ship-of-war Plymouth and brig Dolphin are, at Macao. " Our latest dates are from London, August 24; from Calcutta, September 15; from Bombay, September 19 ; from Madras, Sept. 14; Singapore, October 10; Manilla, October 16; Sydney, August 18." COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. (From the Telegraph and Courier.) BOMBAY, Nov. 7. REPORT OF THE BOMBAY MARKET FROM THE 3D TO THE 16TH INST. INCLUSIVE. The London wail of the Bth of October arrived here on tho 7th hat. S t 1 ~~~`l i~ ~ LITERATUR CON. CRE GAN. Parts X The Irish Gil Bias meets w ith numerous, more strange, ni-,re tainly more humorous than did his S In these parts we have him alternate in Mexico, receiving the homage of a whole peepIL 4 PAV a sate prisoner in Spain, where he is robbed of all his possessions by the Spanish authorities scion Icy regles ; a courier in Italy ; and a quatorzie'ine is Paris. And what is a quterzi6itel asks the reader. The same question was asked by Con. Cregan himself, when it was proposed that he should become the purchaser of the goodwill of a quatorzieme, and thus was it answered by the agent of the vendor I perceive that Monsieur is a strangc r to Paris and its ways, or he would know that a . quaturzierne is not an apartment fourtet n stories high, but an individual who holds himself always in readiness at the dining-hours of his neighbourhood, to make the fourteenth at any table, where, by accident, the unlucky number of thirteen should be assembled ;—a party which every well-informed porton would otherwise scruple to sit down with. This, sir, is a quatoile me; and here is a gentleman desirous of disposing of his interest in such an enviable pr. perry.' " To my question as to what were the necessary qua lifications, they both answered in a kind of duct, by volubly recapitulating that nothing was needed but a suit ut black and clean gloves; unobtrusive dome. pour, and a moderate appetite, being the certain recommenda tions to a high professional success. I saw the chief re quirement well—to eat little and to talk less—to come in with the soup and go cut with the salad—never to partake of an entrée, nor drink save the • ordinaire:' ib,se were the duties; the reward was ten francs. 'lt used to be a Napoleon, Monsieur,' said the old man, wiping his eyes. •In the time of Charles the Tenth it was alolays a Napoleon, but these canailles now a-days have no reverence for anything; I have known eve n the Ministry dine thirteen on a Friday;—to be sure the King was fire at two days afterwards fur it—but nothing can teach them.' " The old gentlemtia grew most communicative on the subject of his • walk,' which he was only abandoning in coast quence of the rheumatism, and the d'fficully of as cending to dinner parties 01 a high elevation. lie de picted with enthusiasm the enjoyments of a profession that demanded, as he observed, so little previous study, was removed from all the vicissi;udes of commerce, pleasant in practice, and remunerative in pay. He also insinuated the possible advantages to a young and hand some man, who could scarcely fail to zecure a good marriage, by observing a discreet and decorous demeanour; and, in fact, he represented his calling in such a light, as at least to give me the liveliest curiosity to enter Lyon it for a brief space, and while meditating what future bteps I should take in life.' ~~i ~C~~ ~ i" That same afternoon I saw myself announcmi at th 42 porter's window of a vary shabby-looking house in the Rue do la Forge, as Monsieur de Corneille—the de' being advised by my predecessor. Quatoi z vl.ne pret a tout houre,' and thus opened my professional career." RAILWAY and COMMERCIAL INFORMA TION. By Samuel Salt. London: Smith and Son, Strand. Under the above title Mr. Salt,who has long been known to the railway world as the able and excellent goods manager on the London and North- Western Rail way at Manchester, has given us one of the most per fect manuals of railway intormation, railway statistics, and railway anecdotes ever presented to the public. Mr. Salt is already well known by his valu able works entitled " Statistics and Calculations," and "Facts and Figures." The information contained in the present work is somewhat similar in character to that given in his previous volumes, but being brought down to the present time it possesses a peculiar interest from its embracing that most eventful period of railway history, during which railway property has become so frightfully and so causelessly &predated. That depreciation is, according to Mr. Salt, princi pally owing to the carelessness of railway shareholders themselves ; and, as a proof that the depreciation of railway property is attributable solely to puerile and improper management, Mr. Salt mentions the fact that railways hare fully realized the expectations of the projectors, and that the traffic has been in ex cess of that anticipated. The work is dedicated to Joshua Procter Westhead, Esq., M.P., and we cordially join in the hope expressed in thededica . tion, " that some of the facts Contained in this work may aid in raising railway property from its present prostrated condition to its legitimate place amongst commercial investments." ~..., "6-1,--- -111`•:;1, • 4 , . --.E.. , • ,•,.lit,r,. o - lii 141:4 . • -• -•:ft,,4! tkiwi KING RENE'S DAUGHTER. The following letter on the subject of the rival translations of this drama has bee❑ addressed to a Morning Contemporary : " Sir,—ln your notice of the performance of Ilenrik hertz's celebrated Danish lyrical drama, King Reno's Daughter, at the Strand Theatre, you state ' the present translation appeared in the Dublin University Magazine for June, 1848, and is from the pen of a gentleman of high literary attainments, who has assumed the pseudonyme of "Bon Gaultier." Another version of the same drama, by Edmund Phipps, Esq., has been recently performed at Dublin, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kean acting in the chief cha racters: "On inquiry, you will find both the above named transh.tions t.re from the German translation of the Danish publication. The only English translation from the original Danish—which excited great in terest in Denmark, and called forth the unqualified approbation of Henrik Herta himself—appeared in 1845, published by Smith, Elder, and Co., Corohill. It is by an English lady, many years resident in Denmark, well versed in Danish and Scandinavian literature, as shown in the notes attached to the trans lations of ' Waldemar the Victorious,' and King Eric and the Outlaws,' by the celebrated Danish author, Professor Ingemann. Perceiving that no allusion has yet been made to the existence of this previous translation from the original Danish, which so truly renders the poetic spirit of the original, I am induced, Sir, to appeal to your love of fair play, feel ing assured that , our sense of justice and gallantry will induce you to insert this simple statement of facts. "I remain, Sir, "Yours, respectfully, " A DANE." " London. Dec. 15, 1849. DIAMOND DUST. (From Eliza Cook's Journal.) Strange that a few hours of rest and oblivion should so change our mood. Without being a❑ apologist for ill temper in any, may not the body have txr more to do with the mood than many imagine? Else why, without any new pain or pleasure, or any other imaginable cause, is one happy this moment. miserable the next. Exi►tence is only really valuable while it is necessary to some one dear to us. The moment we become awaro that our death would leave no aching void in a human heart, the charm of life is guile. The poor man who patiently endures his want, is rich enough. Zeal, without judgment, is like gunpowder in the hands of a child. Money got by gaming, is like a pyramid built of snow. Seek the world without; it is for art, the inexhaus- tible pasture ground and harvest to the world within. Victory ever inclines to him who contends the least. It we lay our le..f-gold upon touchwood, we must not feel surprised to see it crumble a% ay under our fingers. DANGER OF LIGHT STEEL-GUN BARRELS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. Sir,—Having yesterday attended the meeting of the committee at the proof-house with Sir Claude Scott, accompanied by Mr. Purdey, and other emi ❑ent gun makers, I beg leave to enter my protest not only against ironmongers selling guns, which they know nothing about, but also the dangerous new fashion of making light steel barrels. Yuur article in the Times of to-day will, I trust, justify me in the one case, and the following information will be suffi cient to support me in the other :—Mr. Westley Richards, in a letter to his agent, Mr. Bishop, says, " Sir Claude Scott has been the victim, fortunately without injury. I always told you what would happen. Light steel barrels won't do. I have had too many experiments to be deceived." Greener, in his able work on the gun, says—" if you want safety, you will not find it in steel barrels. Purdey, Wil kinson, and Evans are of the same opinion, as are almost all the good practical gun makers and barrel filers. I am, Sir, your humble servant, PETER HAWKER. Dorset•place, Dec. 19. EXPLOSION OF A POWDER MILL AT HOUNSLOW:. On Tuesday evening, between six and seven o'clock, an explosion took place at Messrs. Curtis and Harvey's powder mills, Hounslow-heath, which was beard as far distant as Richmond, and the hemisphere was so bril liant for some minutes that it was feared that a very dreadful and disastrous accident had taken place, From inquiries made it appeared that the explosion was con fined to a drying - house,in which a quantity of gun powder in an unfinished state, called a " gun charge,' had by some unknown cause ignit e d, an d blo w n the roof of the building off ; thus causing the lurid appear ance of the sky. The amount of damage has not been stated. TORTURE IN SWITZIRLAND.—A strange clrcum stanco has just taken place at Herisau, the capital of Inner Appenzell, in Switzerland, showing how much in these countries of old liberties civilization is behindhand in some matters. A young girl of 19, some months back, assassinated her rival. Her lover was arrested with her, and, as she accused him of the crime, bath were put to the torture. The girl yielded to the pain, and confessed her crime ; the young man held firm in his denial; the former was condemned to death, and on the 7th of this month was decapitated with the sword in the market-place of Ilerisau. This fact is itself a start ling one, but the details are just as strange. For two hours the woman was able to struggle against four indi viduals charged with the execution. Atter the first hour the strength of the woman was still so great that the men were obliged to desist ; the authorities were then consulted, but they declared that justice ought to follow its ccurse. The struggle then recommenced, with greater intensity, and despair seemed to have redoubled the woman's force. At the end of another hr4ur she was at last bound by the hair to a stake, and the sword of the executioner then carried the sentence into effects 78%4