The Sun. — London, England, 1849-01-09 00:00:00

y btrbi 7bition SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock. COLONIAL BANK.—(THIS DAY.) A special general Court of the Proprietors o f this company was held to-day, at one o'clock, at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, for the election of a director in the room of Mr. Cripps, M.P., deceased; Mr. Colville is the chair. Mr. George Hankey was unanimously elected. The ordinary half-yearly meeting was after wards held. Mr. CALVERT read the report and statement of ac counts. The report alluded to the depression in West India affairs, and to their inability to get in more than they had of West India debts. Colonial prices having exhibited some improvement, the 4irectors calculated, if peace was preserved, that they would continue to improve. They thought it would be well not to press persons to pay immediately, when it might lead to their ruin, and when waiting a little while would tend to the benefit of the bank. Their liabilities had been greatly reduced, and their transactions limited and concentrated without being accompanied by reduction in the profits. They recommended that a moderate portion of profits should be appropriated to a dividend, and further that a divi dend of two per cent. per annum on the paid-up capital, or one per cent. for the half-year ending in June, 1848, should be declared, which would require 5,000/., leaving 16,000/. to be carried to the bad debt fund. The following statement of accounts was submitted to the proprietors:— DEBTS. Circulation ... Deposits and other liabilities Paid-up capital Fund to meet bad debts , Profit ... .. ... • £159,055 7 4 533,501 4 7 500,000 0 0 14,671 18 4 21,959 16 7 £1,229,188 6 10 ASSNTS. Specie •..• ••• Due to the Bank in the Colonies, on bills discounted and purchased, in cluding those past due Due to the Bank in the Colonies, on £189,387 17 3 cash credits and current accounts ... Due to the Bank in London, on bills remitted, cash at bankers ... ... Bank premises and furniture in Lon don and the Colonies ... ... 540,292 10 1 181,873 18 0 301,072 3 5 16,561 18 1 £1,229,188 6 10 The CHAIRMAN, in reply to several questions, stated that the expenses had been reduced 4,000/., and that the losses upon the year would be more than last year. A PROPRIETOR demanded their amount, and a more detailed account of the exact affairs of the bank. The CHAIRMAN said the directors had nothing to conceal; but submitted that it would not be policy to expose too minutely the affairs of the bank, as, though they were in a healthy condition, such an exposition might prove inimical to its interests. Mr. CATE followed, and defended the course recom mended by the chairman. When they bore in mind the destructive and ruinous policy which had been adopted towards the West Indian colonies, and the consequent fall of many great houses, two contemporary banks among the number, he thought they should be thankful that they were in as good a position as they were.— (Cheers.) liotwithstanding their losses, they had 300,000!. of capital immediately available, which was amply sufficient for them to carry on their business with, and for the realization of a fair profit. lie assured them that neither himself nor the other directors would re main at their posts if the proceedings of the bank were not of the most upright and straightforward character. The report was then received and adopted. The dividend referred to above having been proposed, A Pnornlvror. submitted that it was most unwise, when their liabilities were so great, to pay any dividend. —(Cries of " No, no.") He proposed this on ordinary business grounds. The CHAIRMAN said, it was also a common principle in business that the persons carrying it on must live in the meantime.—(Hear, hear.) The motion was then adopted. Charles Cave, Esq., Charles Marryatt, E;q., and James Cavan, Esq., were re-elected ; and William Ellice, Esq., elected auditor. On the motion of Mr. GURNEY, a cordial vote of thanks was passed to the chairman and directors for the able and discreet way in which they had conducted the affairs of the bank. The meeting then' eparated. THE NEW ISLINGTON CATTLE MARKET.—(THIS DAY.) After the opening of the market (a brief account of , which appears in another column) a great number of , gentlemen, supporting the undertaking, sat down to an I excellent cold collation, provided in the board-room. The cloth having been withdrawn, several excellent speeishes were made explanatory of the objects of those who had been instrumental in forming the company, the effect of which may be gleaned from the following state ment :—" The object is to provide a spacious and conve nient market for all cattle sent for sale to the metropolis, spacious lairs for their repose after travelling, or remain ing unsold, extensive and well-organized slaughtering establishments, and a carcase market, with a frontage of 2,000 feet, immediately adjoining the cattle market, which will be furnished with extensive cooling stores for keeping the butcher's surplus stock (under his own control) in ali: seasons at an uniform temperature. Two classes will support this undertaking: one, for great public objects, as it must remove the growing nuisances and danger in the crowded thoroughfares of London, get rid of a fruitful source of malaria, producing countless diseases, and put . down the greatest disgrace of this metropolis—a berbelism unparalleled in the capi tal city of any country in the civilized world; the other of its supporters, wilt be those who will join it as the safest and most profitable investment existing, or projected, on a joint-stock principle, seeing that it has already obtained the sanction of the Legislature, and that its business must extend with the annual increase of the British and foreign cattle sold and slaughtered in London. The evidence taken before a Select Committee of the House of Commons last year will furnish data to throw abtindant light upon the amount of business that may fairly be expected at Islington ; and the esti mates, which have been carefully prepared, will show that, without many sources of income un specified, there cannot be less than twenty per cent. profit to the shareholders, without in any way trench ing upon the rights of the public. Nor will this appear surprising, when the vast extent and nature of the daily business is considered, and that the company has purchased and is in possession of the valuable Islington' estate, consisting of the market-house, seven public-houses, thirty dwelling-houses, with all the sub stantial buildings in the market, &c., spacious lairs enclosing fifteen acres, pens, stalls, stables, offices, four banking-houses, wells, ample water tanks, &c., erected by the late Mr. Perkins, on 22 acres of freehold land, besides several acres of leasehold (in all nearly 30 acres), together with the Act of Parliament conferring the privilege of holding the market, taking tolls, slaugh tering, &c., &c., at nearly one -half the amount expended by that gentleman. The market has been put into complete order, and is capable of receiving the largest number of cattle ever sent to Smithfield, or even double the number ; and already—as a small instalment of the future—more than a thousand head of cattle are sent weekly for the advantage of the superior lairage, water, &c., and many are there sold. Many circum stances are favourable to this company which were un favourable to Mr. Perkins. A prejudice existed, that while fighting one monopoly he was seeking to establish another. Some erroneous, and it is believed miscon strued proceedings on his part, were alleged as reasons for this report; but in this company no monopoly or selfish advantage to the public injury can arise, and every error which past experience has pointed out will be removed. Three instances may be cited in proof. Ist. The establishment of a Dead Meat Market adjoining the Cattle Market. 2d. Permission to slaught er i n this establishment by the company's servants, or by the servants of the different caicAse butchers, as they may prefer ; and 3d. Every accommodation will be offered to a ll persons connected with Smithfield Market, either 315 graziers, backers, salesmen, or drovers, to transfer the whole or us much of their busi ness as they may think proper, to the new market. In considericg the extraordinary increase of the London su pply, it appears that in the y ear 1746 only about 75,000 cattle, and 580,000 sheef3,4w6i,tha 233,402 headlewl)igs'were of sold in S m ithfield market; is cattle, and 1,527,200 sheep, besides calves and pigs, were sold; making an increass in the last century alone of 300 per cent. What that increase may be, with the,._ growing population, and the continually advanc ing importation of foreign cattle, in a few years, it is difficult to conjecture, b ut who will venture . to assert that Smithfi e ld both legal and illegal , is sufficient in space properly to accommodate half of those that now arrive. Assuming, therefore , that Smithfield is tota ll y inade quate to the requirements of the day, and must become every year still more so, we have a right to conclude that Islington Market, having Act the sanction of a sp ecial of Parliament, and every possible convenience to recommend it, must ultimately become the cattle market of the metropolis. The area of Smithfield Market for a ll purposes does not exceed five acres, nor can the present illegal and pitiful attempt to include a space of 32 yards by 12, add in any way to its efficiency, The objections to Smithfield Market, as proved before Parliament, are, according to the evidencce printed last y ear by order of the House of Commas :-1. Insufficient space. 2. Cattle in j ured by afiv cruelty a t a a n g d e C t l e ose bu p y a e c r k s - . ing. 3. Cattle not shown to 4. Want of water. 5- Want of hilrage- 6. Dan ger to passengers in crowded thoroughfares. I n con sequence of these objections, and the continual in crease of stock by foreign importetion, we have a right to conclude that the Government, which is determined to enforce sanitary measures and general social reform, Will insist on the removal of Smithfield Market, and we are fortified in this assurance by the fact that Parlia ment has resisted nine different attempts made by the Cor poration of London to obtain acts to enlarge Smithfield, and thereby add to its manifold evils of obstruction, alarm, danger, and disease. In consequence of the re monstrance of the graziers as to the inefficiency of space so far back as 1809, the subject was, with the unanimous approbation of every salesman in Smithfield, referred to the consideration of the Board of Trade, who, atter fully inquiring into the matter, reported, ' Meat in order pro perly to accommodate the whole stock sent for the supply of the metropolis, the market would require an area of stleast twelve acres.' The area of Islington Market is, within its walls, fifteen acres, and about thirteen outside. Many appeals on the score of humanity have also been addressed to the Corporation; but no efficient measure has or can be adopted by them to the interest of the graziers, who, they know, ar e compelled to send thei r stock to Smithfield ; a n d by a Bill brought into Parlia ment by the Corporation of London so recently as 1833, they actually attempted, in order to enable them to add only three-quarters of an acre to Smithfield Market, to tax the glaziers and farmers with the payment of 72,000!. towards the expense of so , insignificant an enlargement ; which sum was to ho levied by additional tolls on all stock sent to Smithfield. The Bill was sup ported by the City Members (of course); but was op pcsed by nearly every other Member of the House of Commons, and thrown out by a large majority. It was, however, deemed expedient, before absolutely concluding any arrangement for the possession of Islington Market, to ask for, and be governed by, the opinion of the graziers who transmit their cattle for sale in London. Accordingly a circular was sent to every member of the Farmers' Club, Agricultural Societies, &c., in all the grazing counties in England; and, to the thousands of these circulars so nearly unanimous is the feeling that there are only seven answers expressing doubt or dissent; and of the remainder the vast majority of graziers pro mise to send their cattle to Islington, as the best proof they can give of their opinion upon the subject, so soon as the market is opened. This unanimity cannot be wondered at, when it is known that the cattle market at Islington, in its present state, can accommodate 8,000 cat tle and 50,000 sheep, besides horses, pigs, &c., safely locked within its walls; that a junction railway, now construct ing from Blackwell to the Northern and Eastern, Eastern Counties, and the Great Northern and Western Railways, will pass the market within 380 yards; from which a tram-road will be laid into the market; and, as seven-eighths of all the cattle brought into the market enter by these north lines, very few need be driven into London at all; that thtre is abundant lairage, and plenty of excellent water; that the cattle can be shown to the best advantage; that the owners can, if they think proper, superintend the sale of their own stock; that when slaughtered the meat will be in prime condition, and, con sequently, worth more money, and that the trouble and expense of bringing the cattle to market will be consi derably diminished. In order at once to prove to the public and the grazing interests the determination of the promoters, to discountenance anything like mo nopoly, and to offer a fair and open field in the mo netary arrangement of the present undertaking, it has been resolved to raise the required capital in one pound shares, to be paid on allotment as above stated; a course in which the promoters aro encouraged by the cordial approval of a large majority of contemplated sup porters. The first issue will be to the amount of 50,000 shares only; after which, when required,- the second series, of a like number, will be allotted, and will be offered in the first instance to the holders of the let series, and the residue, if any, will be issued to new sub scribers; and in the same manner the 3d and 4th series, preference being given to the holders of the earliest al loted shares.' The advantage of the shares being so low, and the whole paid up, will be obvious, from there being no calla to anticipate, and persons in every grade of life may take part in the undertaking. The deed of settlement will contain such clauses as will limit the responsibility of shareholders to the amount they may respectively hold. To the public generally, as consumers of animal food. the benefit will be manifestly great: cattle goaded, bruised, excited into fever, deprived of water and fodder, cannot be in that healthy condition previous to slaughtering that they ought to be. At the Islington Market, with its ample space, fine air, its slaughter-houses, cooling stores, and accommodation which private capital cannot command, no such cruelties and consequent depreciation, need take place." The neighbourhood of the market has been the scene of the greatest bustle during the whole day, and the fol. lowing notice has been most extensively circulated : THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 9, 1849, "ISLINGTON MARKET. " Notice is hereby given, that the business of the above market will commence for the sale of cattle, sheep, and pigs, on Tuesday, the 9th, and Thursday, the I I th, days of January, and for horses on Wednesday, the 10th day of January, 1849; and will continue open on the same days in every succeeding week. " The lairage is now complete, with water laid on to each lair. Fodder, with every other requisite, will be supplied on the premises en the most moderate terms; and no tolls will be taken for cattle remaining in the mar ket, after the first day, beyond the entry for sale and one day's s lairage, if ultimately sold in the market." COURSE OF EXCH] Amster aam .........• 12 2% Ditto, at sight • • .... 12 0% Rotterdam .... • ..... 12 2% A.ntwerp • • 25 70 Hamburgh —1.1.8. 13 11% Faris, 3 days' sight .. •• 25 35 Ditto, 3 months .... 25 65 Marseilles • ........... 25 62% . 25 65 Frankfort on Maine.... 121 % Petersburgh, Sil. Itble.. 36!,i Vienna, effec. fio 11 33 Trieste, ditto.. .. .. 11 36 Madrid 47% Barcelona • . • • 5ev111e........ • • • • LNGE.-(THIS DAY.) Gibraltar • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Leghorn .. .. ••.. • • 32 0 Genoa .. ••• • .. .. •• .. 25 25 Milan .. „ tiaples .. • • .. 40 Palermo, per0z...... 118% Messina ... ..... 118 Lisbon.. .........• .• .. 514 0p0rt0.... .. 52 Rio Janeiro •• . .. •• - • Buenos Ayres .. .. • • -- New York, 21 days'sight Philadelphia .... • MOUS OF BULLION, YEE OZ Foreign Gold in bars.. £3 17 9 IPortligal Gold Coin • • 0 0 0 Spanish Doubloons .. 0 0 0 0 4 10 Sille7in D lt i r ars a........ o 4 11% AMERICAN NEWS. ARRIVAL OF THE NIAGARA. LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY MORNING. The British and North American royal mail steam ship Niagara, Captain Ryrie, has just arrived from Boston and Halifax with the mails and passengers from Canada, the United States, and the lower pro vinces. She sailed from Boston on the 27th, and Halifax on the 29th ult., and brings 46 passengers. The steam-ship Europa, hence for Halifax and New York on the 16th ult., had arrived out at Flail fax on the 29th ult., landed her Canada mails, and proceeded for New York. By this arrival we have advices seven days later than those brought by the Canada on Wednesday last, and they comprise —Boston, Dec. 27 ; New York, Dec. 26 ; Philadelphia, Dec. 26 ; Baltimore, Dec. 25 ; Mobile, Dec. 22 ; New Orleans, Dec. 21 ; Montreal, Dec. 22 ; Quebec, Dec. 21 ; and Halifax, Dec. 29. The New York Weekly Herald, of Dec. 6, says':— " The gold excitement: is undoubtedly subsiding through the country. Conversations upon this matter are growing less animated, and persons who, a week since, thought or spoke of nothing that was not con nected with California, are gradually settling down to their usual occupation. Emigration to the gold regions from the United States, as far as :we can ascertain from various sources within our reach, has been as yet exceed ingly small. In fact, the number now on their way amounts to nothing; but if the preparations on foot are fully carried out as is anticipated, and the per sons who have resolved to seek their fortunes there make good their resolutions, the list of gold-diggers will, in less than a year, fill an enormous parchment. Many, we are inclined to believe, who have already sacrificed much at home to the desire of seeking wealth on the Pacific, are now showing symptoms of vacillation ; with many, a want of de cision of purpose is clearly perceptible, and they are acting under feelings swayed between hope and fear. The probability is, that not more than a third of those who have entered upon arrangements to proceed will venture farther than they have already gone. The disadvantages in both sea and land routes are so great, that but a few will hazard their lives and little possessions, for that which is as yet an uncertainty. The number of vessels up for the Pacific, at this port, has not been enlarged since yesterday ; at Boston, Philadelphia, and Balti more, we do not hear of any additional movements of interest. The owners of the Crescent City, which leaves on Saturday, for Chagres, have made an en gagement with a gentleman who has crossed the Isthmus several times, to proceed by express to Panama. It is his intention to make all possible arrangements at Panama for the dispatch of passen gers to San Francisco, and, by arrangements along the road, to facilitate the transit or the Isthmus. The steamer Isthmus, under the command of Captain Baker, will sail for Chagres to-day, with about sixty passengers." The New York Commercial Advertiser, referring to the same subject, says—" Like the official letter of Governor Mason, it seems to confirm and strengthen even the wildest representations that have reached us from private adventurers, and as it travels through the country will no doubt add fuel to the burning excite ment that pervades all classes. Even the most dogged incredulity is staggered by such successive waves of testimony in support of accounts which at first were regarded as little better than mere fables." The people in all parts of the United States were pre paring to start by the hundred for the " gold region." The New York papers publish a very long report in reference to th e P os t- o ffice, and in compliance with a resolution of the House of Representatives. It is an extremely lengthy document, extending over several columns of the various papers. It is the pro duction of Msjor Hobbie, who was some time since in this country, and who appears to be a very humble imitator of Mr. Polk in his dislike of brevity. From the document we gather that the United States cannot profitably have the cheap postage sys. tern applied, for the reason that there are more unpro ductive mail routes than in England. In America the document does not appear to have met with much fa vour, or occupied much attention ; and in this coun try it will certainly command less, since we cannot find that any allusion is made to the mail arrange ments between this country and the United States. The report suggests the adoption of a reduced and uniform rate of inland postage. THE FRANKLIN EXPEDITION.—We translate from the Montreal Minerve the following extract of a let ter from a Canadian Missionary, the Rev. Father Tache, dated Isle a la Crosse, Hudson's Bay Territory, 20th January, 1848 : " There is this country, save an nothing new inexpedi tion which is already en its way in search of Captain Sir John Franklin, who left England in 1845, for the purpose of attempting to explore the north-west passage into the Pacific. The teen com posing this expedition winter near this place, at Fort Cumberland, with Mr. G. Deschambault, and will pass through here in the spring. Sir John Richard son, who is to leave Montreal in a canoe, will be here about midsummer. I believe this expedition per fectly useless. Either Captain Franklin has by this time got back to England, or he has perished in the ice. Besides, the expedition cannot reach the Arctic sea before the summer of 1849. The firing of cannon was heard at the last past on Mac kenzie's River both last winter and the winter before. They were probably signals of distress. Unfor tunately, it was impossible to go to their assist ance. A Dr. Hay is also in search on this side. No news of him has been received, and fears are enter tained for his safety, so much the more as he em barked in open boats, and his rashness at sea is well known." The report that the firing of cannon was heard in the winters of 1846 and '47, towards the mouth of Mackenzie's River, seems to confirm that of the Esquimaux Indians, that a " big canoe" had been seen ashore there.—Quebec Gazette. _ _ Congress had adjourned for the Chrismas holidays after having closed the third week of the session, and during which many important questions had been partially considered. There had been several pre liminary discussions in the Senate on the Panama Railway Bill of Messrs. Aspinall and others, and which, by the last accounts we were informed, was almost certain of being passed. Now, however, it is reported that, in consequence of the decided opposition it had met with in some quarters, there is but little pro spect of its passage. There had also been several spirited discussions on the reference of the Bill for the admission of California and Mexico as a Federal State, which involves the question of slavery. So far as the measure had gone the Southern men had been successful. The following is an abstract of the Bill : Sec. 1. After the Ist day of April, '49, all that part of the territory of the United States known as Upper California shall be organised into a temporary govern ment, provided nothing in said Act shall be construed to prohibit the government of the United States from dividing said territory into two or more territories. Sec. 2 provides for vesting the Executive power of said territory in a Governor. Sections 3 and 4 provide for the Secretary and Le gislative Assembly, mode of electing members, &c. Sec. s.—Every free white male citizen of the United States above the age of twenty-one years, an inha bitant of the territory at the lime of its organize,- tion, shall be entitled to vote at the first election, provided that no officer, soldier, or seaman, in the army or navy of the United States, shall be allowed to vote, unless the said territory has been his permanent domi cile for six months, and no person belonging to the army or navy shall be elected to any office. • The next four sections relate to the judiciary, &c. Sec. 11th provides that the governor, secretary, judges, attorney, and marshal, shall be nominated, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appointed by the President of the United States. The salary of the Governor is 1,500 dollars as Gover nor, and the same as Superintendent of Indian Affairs; of the Judges, 2,000 dollars each; and of the Secretary, 1,500 dollars. Sec. 12. And be it further enacted—that the in • habitants of said territory shall be entitled to enjoy all and singular the rights, privileges, and advantages granted and secured to the people of the United States, north-west of the river Ohio, by the articles of compact contained in the ordinance for the government of said territory, on the 10th day of July, 1787, and shall be subject to all the conditions, restrictions, and prohi bitions in said articles of compact imposed upon the peo ple of said territory. The Bill goes on to provide that a delegate to the House of Representatives to serve for two years may be elected. Also for the establishment of a collection dis trict, and a port of entry, and the post of collector, whose salary shall be one thousand dollars; also, for the eats biishment of suitable ports of delivery. The Bill contains twenty sections, and is an exact copy of the Oregon Bill which passed last session. In reference to the subject of slavery, we may men tion here, that on the 23dLult., the Southren members of the Senate had a Caucus meeting at Washington, to consider the subjects/ of the assaults of the Abo litionists upon the institutions Of slavery and the harmony of the union.- Sixty-tight: members worn present, and although reporters were excluded we learn that a committee, to consist of one member from each state was ordered to be appointed, and who are to make a report on the 15th of January. In the house of Representatives on the 21st, a resolution was carried by a majority of nine, instructing the Com mittee of the district of Columbia to report a Bill to abolish all traffic in slaves in the district. A motion was made to reconsider the subject, which remained un decided when the House adjourned. The passage of this resolution was probably the cause of the Caucus meeting of Southern senators. The drainage of the everglades of Florida, as proposed by Mr. Westcott's bill, had occupied a large share of the attention of the Senate, but at the last accounts no progress had been made with it. The resolution offered by Mr. Miller, calling upon the President for the production of any correspondence be tween the Governments of Spain and the United States, in reference to the side and purchase of Cuba, had again been brought up, but its passage was opposed on the ground that it would interfere with the President's pre rogative, &e. The matter had been passed over, but not definitively settled. A Bill to admit articles of the growth and production of Canada into the United States free of duty, upon con dition that like articles of the growth and production of the United States be admitted into Canada, was before the Senate. It passed the House of Representatives last session, and there appears to be no doubt that it will now become law. The New Yorh Journal of Commerce says, " The character of the tariff debate i❑ the House leads to the conclusion that it is not really intended to repeal the tariff of 1846, and to restore that of 1842 this session, even so far as the action of the House is concerned." Lewis Cass, jun., had been nominated Minister to Rome, but it is said the nomination would not be con firmed. Mr. Servier had been 'nominated as Commis sioner on the part of the United States, to run and mark theiboundary between the United Statei and Mexico. The steam-ship Panama, which sailed from New York for California on the Ist of December, put back to that port on the 24th with her machinery damaged. The cholera had broken out at New Orleans, and one case is said to have occurred at Staten Island. At the former place, on the 16th ult., there were 11 new cases and seven deaths. On the 20th it was still in- creasing. The advices from Venezuela :represent the state of of the country as being in a very deplorable condition. The partizans of Mongas and Paez have sworn to ex terminate each other. The papers contain various re ports of the successes achieved by the forces of General Paez in the capture of Maracaibo, and in several engage ments that took place in Cumana. The provinces of Truxillo and Mereda have pronounced against Menges. The commercial accounts furnished are scarcely so favourable as those last received. The Stock Market is described as having been less active, with an increase in the demand for money consequent upon the closing of the year, when payments are usually large. A com parison of the prices current at the departure of the last steamer and the present exhibits a decline in Treasury notes of per cent. There was an active demand for bills for remittance by the Niagara, and the supply was limited, holders appearing to wait for the 10th January packet, in the expectation that there would be more calls for bills to meet the interest on bondf, stocks, &c. The quotation for bills on London ranged from 1084- to 109. In the New York Cotton Market no change is reported, and there was very little business doing. At New Orleans the accounts taken out from this by the Canada had had a favourable effect upon the market, and caused an increase of business,* with an upward tendency in prices. THE LONDON GAZETTE. (THIS EVENING.) CAMBRIDGE-HOUSE, JAN. 6, 1849. The Duke of Cambridge has been pleased to appoint the Rev. Thomas Scard, M.A., to be one of his Royal Highness's Chaplains. FOREIGN-OFFICE, JAN. 8. The Queen has been pleased to approve of M. Phocion Roque as Consul, at Malta, for his Majesty the King of Greece. WAR-OFFICE, JAN. 9. 2d Dragoons—Lieutenant Philip Antrobu3, from the 91st Foot, to be Paymaster, vice William Crawford, who retires upon half-pay, dated Jan. 1. 16th Regiment of Foot—Lieutenant Michael Creagh Singleton, from half-pay 50th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Cassidy, promoted, Jan. 9. 20th Foot—Ensign George finish Adams to be Adju tant, vice Hallewell, promoted, Jan. 9. 32d Foot—Ensign Edward Chippendall to be Lieute nant, by purchase, vice Reed, who retires ; Ensign Pen rose John Dunbar, from 31st Foot, to be Ensign, vice Chippendall, Jan. 9. 37th Foot—Lieutenant John Brown, from the Ceylon Rifle Regiment, to be Lieutenant, vice Cumming, who exchanges, Jan. 9. 62d Fcot—Quartermaster John Nowlan, from the 70th Foot, to be Quartermaster, vice Boyd, who ex changes, Jan. 9. 66th Foot—Lieutenant George Charles Downman to be Captain, without purchase, vice Astley, deceased; Ensign George Watson to be Lieutenant, vice Down man, Nov. M, 1848; Edward James Storey, Gent., to be Ensign, vice Watson, Jan. 9, 1849; Quartermaster Mathew Reilly to be Adjutant (with the rank of Ensign) vice Ross, deceased,' Nov. 26, 1848. 70th Foot—Quartermaster Thomas Boyd, from the 62d Foot, to be Quartermaster, vice Nowlan, who ex changes, Jan. 9. 72d Foot—Lieutenant William Parke to be Captain, without purchase, vice Hope, deceased; Ensign Cecil Rice, from the 80th Foot, to bo Ensign, without pur i chase, Jan. 9. 80th Foot—George Sullivan, Gent., to be Ensign, without purchase, vice Rice, appointed to 72d Foot, Jan. 9. 91st Foot—William George Conway Gordon, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Dunbar, appointed to 32d Foot, Jan. 9. Ist West India Regiment—Lieutenant James Henry Robeson to be Captain, without purchase, vice Minty, deco aced; Ensign Samuel Head to be Lieutenant, vice Robeson, Nov. 20; Robert Horatio George Minty, Gent. to be Ensign, vice Head, Jan. 9. Ceylon Rifle Regiment—Lieutenant Robert Gordon Cumming, from 37th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice Brown, who exchanges; Lieutenant Charles Theophilus Jlement to be Adjutant, vice Bagenall, promoted, Jan. 9. Royal Canadian Rifle Regiment—Lieutenant Windsor Henry Humphreys, from the Ceylon Rifle Regiment, to be Lieutenant, vice King, appointed to the 74th Foot, Jan. 9. MEMORANDUM.—The commlasioii of Lieutenant John Rotton, as Adjutant of 36th Foot, has been antedated to 13th September, 1848. REDUCTION OF THE NATIONAL DEBT. Tlie Lords Commissioners of her Majt 84'6 Treasury having certified to the Commissioners for toe Reductioo of the National Debt, in pursuance of the Ac.. 10,11 Geerge IV., c. 27, sec. 1, that the actual expenditure of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland ex ceeded the actual revenue thereof, for the year ended the 10th day of October, 1848, by the sum of one million seven hundred and eighty-four thousand and thirty-one pounds and twopence, The Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt hereby give notive, that no sum will be applied by them on account of the Sinking Fund, under the pro visions of the said Act, between the 7th day of January, 1849, and the sth day of April, 1849. National Debt-office, January 4, 1849. S. Ilmnam, Comptroller-General. WHITEHALL, JAN. 4. The Lord Chancellor has appointed Samuel Gaskell, of Lancaster, Esq. (Surgeon), to be a Commissioner in Lunacy, in the room of James Cowles Prichard, Esq. (Physician), lately deceased. BANKRUPTCIES SUPERSEDED. John Jackson, farmer, Clifford, Herefordshire. Charles Peach, Downman, gunpowder and guano mer chant, Birchin-lane, BANKRUPTS. Thomas Drayton, glass silverer, Brunswick-cottage, Park Village East, Regent's Park, to surrender Jan. 18, at two, and Feb. 22. at twelve, at the Court of 13.ink ruptcy. Johnson, official assignee, Basinghail street ; Parson, Pancras•lane. Richard Rees, shoemaker, Duke-street, Westminster, Jan. 18, at one, and Feb. 17, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Green, official assignee, Guildhall cham bers, Basinghall-street ; Barton, Wolsingham-place, Lambeth. John D'Monte Arbuthnot, merchant, Great Saint Helens, City, Jan. 19, at one, and Feb. 13, at eleven, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Pennell, official assignee; Steele, Lincoln's Inn-fields. William Walter Irving, merchant, :Gloucester-street, Queen -square, Bloomsbury, Jan. 16, at halt-past twelve, and Feb. 19, at half-past twelve, at the Court of Bank ruptcy. Turquaud, official assignee, Guildhall-chambers; Holmes, Fenchurch-street. John Phiipotts, shawl warehouseman, Holborn-bars, Jan. 20, at two, and Feb. 24, at twelve, at the Court of Bankruptcy. Follett, official assignee, Sambrook court, Basinghall-street ; Marden and Pritchard, Newgate street. Joseph Oxley, cottonwarp dyer, Bradford, Jan. 26, and Feb. 23, at eleven, at the Leeds District Court. Young, official assignee, Leeds ; Clarke, Southampton buildings, London ; Terry and Watson, Bradford ; Bond and Barwick, Leeds. Joseph Hastings, lace manufacturer, Lenton, Not tinghamshire, Jan. 26, and Feb. 23, at eleven, at the Bir mingham District Court. Bittleston, official assignee, Nottingham ; Bowley, Nottingham. George Addison, builder, Tipton, Staffordshire, Jan. 23 and Feb. 20, at ten, at the Birmingham District Court. Whitmore, official assignee, Birmingham; Bol ton, Dudley; Nlotteram, Knight, and Emmet, Birming ham. James Hellings, brewer, Rugeley, Jan. 17 and Feb. 22, at twelve, at the Birmingham District Court. Christie, official assignee, Birmingham ; Motteram, Knight, and Emmet, Birmingham. William Lyndon, provision dealer, Birmingham, Jan. 27, and Feb. 17, at twelve, at the Birmingham District Court. Christie, official assignee, Birmingham; Ben son, Birmingham. Benjamin John:Maunder, draper, Mark, Somerset, Jan. 23, and Feb. 20, at eleven, at the Bristol District Court. Acraman, official assignee, Bristol; Clarke, Bristol; Abbott and Co., New Inn, London. John Crossfield, linen merchant, Warton, Lancashire, Jan. 25, and Feb. 15, at eleven, nt the Liverpool Dis trict Court. Morgan, official assignee, Liverpool; Corn thwaite and Co., Old Jewry-chambers; Fisher and Stone, Liverpool. Gieles Francis Henry and Henry John Chambers, vinega• brewers, Kirkdale, Lancashire, Jan. 22, and Feb. 12, at eleven, at the Liverpool District Court. Cazenove, official assignee, Liverpool; Keightley and Co., Chancery-lane; Holden, Liverpool. Thomas Coates, wine merchant, Sunderland, Jan. 19 and Feb. 23, at twelve, at the Newcastle•upon-Tyne District Court. Wakley, official assignee, Newcastle upon-Tyne ; J. J. and G. W. Wright, Sunderland ; Maples, Pearce, Maples, and Pearce, Frederick's-place, Old Jewry. MARKET INTELLIGENCE. (From the London New Price Current of Jan. 9.) SuoAß.—To-day there was a material increase in the supply of Colonial Sugarat market, yet former rates were generally obtained, as there was a good home demand. In West India a good trade was concluded at prices equal to those of Friday. The purchases amounted to 600 hods, Sze., including 152 hhds 8 trs 7 brls Barbadoes at public sale, which realized steady rates; fine yellow brought 40s to 40s 6d, good 38s to 395, middling and good middling 366 to 37s 6d; but 267 hhds 13 trs and 9G barrels West India however went upon rather lower terms—Jamaica, good yellow sold at 37s 6d to 38s, middling 36s to 375, low 35s 6d, good brown 134 s 6d, fine 35s 6d; Trinidad, ordinary yellow 34s 6d, good brown 33s 6d; Berbice, middling erey 3ifs to 35s 6d, low 34s to 34s 6d; Demerara, low and middling grey 34s 6d to 355. REFINED.—To-day Refined Sugar was not so much in demand for home use, yet prices ruled firm ; brown Grocery lumps of good quality, at 48s and 6d, and Standard lumps 49s to 50s. Crushed Sugar is still wanted; British at from 28s to 29s per qr. MAURITIIIS.—This afternoon there was a considerable increase in the supply of Mauritius ,Sugar at market. Five public sales took place, consisting of 12,348 bags, a fair proportion of which comprised the better descrip tions of yellow; the demand being active for such, the whole sold at full rates, but inferior and brown were only partly taken upon rather lower rates. EAST INDIA. —This afternon there was a larger sup • ply of Bengal Sugar, and 6,645 bags 338 chests were baought forward by public sale; the better sorts were sold upon full terms—good strong yellow realising 40s to 41a, fine 41s 6d to 435, superiyr 46s 6d to 475, ordi nary 36s 6d, fine white Cossipore 48s ad to 49s 6d; but other kinds only partly found buyers at barely former terms. Of Madras, 2,300 bags were offered, and only part sold. FOREIGN. — To - day there was no public sale of Fo reign Cugar, and privately little business was concluded. Holders remain firm—brown Havannah is held for 18s to 18s 6d, yellow 19s to 235. COFFEE. —This afternoon there was a greater nativity in the market for all sorts of Ceylon Coffee, and the public sales were well attended by the home trade. The parcels offered were all sold, and amounted to 134 casks whit the rate s o b ta i ne d were 2s for and is per cwt for N a ti ve a bov e those of 21)11:1s8at2n8wtaetebikoi.ng's' Of Bengal 131 bags went at 32 for ordinary mixed, rather worm eaten. Three cases Mocha fine 70s 9d; and 44 bags Costa Rica fine ord 35s per cwt. TEA.—For Congou the demand has been brisk, and prices continue on the advance, making the rise on low and middling sorts within a month of Id to lid, and for these the demand has been the most active. The value of common sound clean is 8d to Eid, and good ordinary ad to 91d, low midding and middline . 10d to 11d, good middling and good is to is 21c17 fine Is 3d to is 6d, and Pekoe flavour is Gd to is 9d. In sorts from 3d to 101 some speculative purchases have been concluded. In Souchong a large amount of business has been concluded—ordinary at 8d to 10J, mid to good Is to is Bd, fine aid choice is 9d to 2s 3d. Town and country orders continue to get larger for Green, and prices have assumed an upward tendency; several par cels are also withdrawn from the market. I*'SPIRITS.—For Brandy the market looks firm- and a good demand exists from the home trade. Cognac best brands of the vintage of 1846 has been selling at 4s 10d to ss, ditto 1847, at 3s 9d to 3s Ild, ditto 1848 at 3s 4 d to 3 s 6 d, and inferior sorts 2s 2d to 35 per gallon. There is only a moderate stock, and de liveries continue upon a large scale. Holders of Geneva ask is 10d to is lld for ord exportation sort, and 2s 6d to 3s for fine suitable for home use; there are, however, few buyers. British made Spirit is ip good demand at lOs net cash; Gin 17 per cent. under proof at 9s, and 22 ditto 8s 6cl per gallon; To-day Rum met with attention, and realized further reduced rates; proof Leewards selling at Is sil to is 6d, East India Is Cid to Is sd, and Demerara 30 to 38 per cent. over proof, 2s 2d to 2s 5d per gallon. RICK.—To-day-two parcels of Carolina Rice from New York were offered at auction amounting to 168 pkgs, when a small part only sold at 19s to 20s for first sort. For East India the demand was dull, and 880 bgs Bengal only in part found buyers at 9s 6d for mid yellowish white, and at 6s to 9s for damaged which are rather lower lower rates. Of Tapioca 32 barrels went at 4d for ord, and 2V for damaged. CociusiEess—This afternoon supplies of Cochineal were upon a large scale, and the public sales comprised 180 bags of Honduras and 140 bags Mexican. There was not so much demand, and for the better sorts of Honduras silvers prices declined Id, but inferior fetched full rates. _ _ SALTPETRE.—To-day a fair amount of business was concluded in rough by private treaty. At auction 495 bags of Calcutta sold at firm rates; good mid. grey 5:1 por cent. refraction reached 269 6d to 275, mild. 74 do. 25s Gd to 265; 147 Madras, mid. grey 14i per cent. 255, and damaged 23 s p er cwt. SPieF.s.—T o -d a y o nly a moderate demand existed for Pimento, and 185 bags at auction were ta ken in abo v e the value, f rom 3idjt o 4d for good ord and mid. Ginger is not much wanted, and 200 pkts of Bengal went rather cheaper. Immoo.—The quarterly sale of East India has been fixed for the 13th of February, and the quantity de clared is already 9,000 chts ; the total amount to be offered is estimated at 12,000 chts. On the part of holders there is firmness, and a fair business has been concluded at an advance on the rates of the last quar terly sale of 2d for Bengal, and 2d to 3il per lb. for Madras. For Spanish former rates are insisted upon, whilst the demand appears to be brisker. TALLow.—There is still little disposition manifested to make purchases in Russian on the spot, and prices are yet retronading, as the stack on hand is extensive. Sellers are willing to wept 41s 6d to 42s per cwt for fine P. Y. Candle, still soapmakers and chandlers only Purchase sufficient for their im mediated wants. For delivery little business has been concluded, and 42s is the recent value for last three months of the year. Home melted is to be obtained at 42s net cash, yet few buyers are to be met with, and supply does not get smaller. The public sales of tallow went off quietly, but the parcels o6ered were all sold. For auction the quantity declared is 1,000 pkgs of Tallow. Rough Fat has declined to 2s 5d per stone of 81bs. OlL.—Sperm is further:depressed in value, the supply having been much increased, whilst only a moderate de mand has been experienced. At auction, however, a fair portion of 120 tuns sold. Of American there is a large amount on offer, and holders are yet willing to realise. For all common Fish Oils the market has a firm aspect, and supplies are small, whilst a larger demand exists. In Cocoa Net the sales magic: have been of little in ,, men 1 - , and sellers are ready to accept 33s to 37s for low to fine. Palm met IN itn rather more attention by private treaty ; in the value, however, we have little variation to make know;'. Linseed Oil finds an active demand for home trud, purposes, and exporters were again induced to take several parcels. Rape Oil is wanted. Olive is in greater demand, and only a mode rato quantity has again come to band. On Friday 90 tuns Seal, 15 tuns Cod, 10 tuns Lard, 95 tuns Southern, 45 tuns Cocoa Nut, 10 tuns Sperm Oil will be offered at public sale. THE COUNTRY MARKETS. CHELMSFORD, JAN. s.—We had to-day a dull trade, but wheats maintained last week's prices, few samples, however, changiug hande. Barleys met a still further reduction, and must be quoted is lower. Oats, beans, and peas were similarly reduced in value, and but little business was done in any description of grain. Per Quarter. e. s. Per Quarter. s. s. Wheat, White, 01d... 51 .55 Peas, Partridge New 50 54 White ...... Red, 01d... 41 47 Dun New 48 46 Beans, Tick (new) 24 27 Barley ' 27 31 Old 27 31 Chevalier... 29 33 Harrow Ticks (new) 25 28 Grinding... 25 28 Old 2B 32 17 24 Mazagan (new) 22 25 56 60 Old 26 28 Oats Malt Chevalier ... 58 621 COLCHESTER, JAN. G.—W ditto, 42s to 465; barley, 26s to 28s; middle and small di 36s per quarter. linixeLor, JAN. 6.—We had here to-day fair supplies of wheat and barley, which sold readily at last week's prices. Oats were in small supply, and brought 6d per quarter advance. Wheat. Barley. Oats. Beans. Peas. First ...49s Od 29s Od 20a Od —s Od I—s Od Second 47s Od 27s Od 198 Od —s Od I—s Od Third 403 Od 21s Od 15s 6d —s Od I—s Od heat, white, 463 to 525; red, to 323; beans, Mazagan, 24s itto, 30s to 355; peas, 30s to Oatmeal, per ;lag of 28(ilbs. imp., 26s to 00S. HADDINGTON, JAN. ‘s.—Tile supply to-day of wheat and beans was a little larger, and of barley and eats smaller than in last market. Salts were rather dull. Wheat, top, is down, and average is up; weight of top, per four bushels, 18st 111 b. Barley, top; Is 6d, and average 2d up; weight of top, per four bushels, 17st 01b. Oata, top, 6d, and average ld up; weight of top per four bushels, 13st 01b. Beans, top, same as last market, and average 9d up; weight of top, per four bubhels, I9st 61b. Wheat. I Barley. I Oats. I Beans. ... 53s Od I 32s 6d I 21s Od I .0d Od First Second Third ... 45s 3d .. 36s Od 27s Od 1 19s 6d 27s ii 2Os Od ;5s Od 25s 01 Total quantity •of Wheat in . market . 390 qrs., 367 sold • Do. Barley do. 474 qrs., 442 sok, Do. Oats do. 441 qrs., all mold Do. Beans do. 70 qrs., 69 sold GLASGOW PROVISION MARKET, JAN. 4. Cheese, 46s Od to 52s Od per cwt; retail ditto, sid to 6d per lb. Skim milk, 00s to OOs per cwt. Country fresh butter, 10d to lld per lb; Irish powdered, in lumps, 9id to 10d; country powdered, wholesale, 91d to 10d. Country eggs, Is per dozen; carried hen ditto, 8s 6d per hundred, or 8d per dozen. Hens, 2s Od per pair; ducks, 2s Od. BEnwicK, JAN. 4.—Wheat, 43s 3/d; barley, 25s o+d; oats, 18s 2d; peas, Oos Od, average per imperial qr. KELSO, JAN. s.—Wheat, old, 38s to 40s; ditto, new, 32s to 375; barley, new, 17s to 21s Od; ditto, old, —s to —s; potato oats, —s to --s; ditto, new, 13s to 15s Od; common oats, Ils to 14s; ditto, new, —s to —s; peas, 24s to 255; beans, 24s to 25s per boll of six imperial bushels. PERTH, JAN. 4.—Wheat, 44s to 525; barley, 22s to 275; oats, 15s to 19s; peas and beans, 26s to 30s per quarter; oatmeal 28s to 31s per sack. FALKIRK, JAN. s.—The supply of grain in this day's market was 619 bolls. Wheat at 18s 6d to 24s 6d per boll; barley, 17s 9d to 22.; Od; oats, 12s to 14s 9d; beans, 12i to 14s 6d per boll; oatmeal, —s to —s per load. STIRLING, JAN. s.—Wheat, foreign, 26s to 295; ditto home, 00s to 00s; ditto ditto, new, 19s to 235; barley, per boll of six bushels, 00s to 00s; ditto, new, I7s to 22s 6d; oats, common, 00s Od to 00s; ditto ditto, new, lOs 6d to 12s; di:to, Flemish, OOs to OOs; ditto ditto, new, 00s to OOs; malt, distillers, 38s to 40s; ditto, brew ers, 39s to 41s; beans, per boll, 15s 6d to Os; ditto, new, lls 6d to 14s; peas, OOs to 00s. Flour, new, per sack, 404 to 425; ditto, common ditto, 29s to 30s 6d. Oatmeal, per load, Oos to 00s; ditto, new, 27s to 293; ditto, per peck of 71bs, 91(1 to 10d. Fresh butter per lb, lld to 12d. Eggs per dozen, 9d to 10d. Hay, per ton, 46s to 50s. COAL MARKE' '.--YESTE !MAY. Buddle's W. Hartley.. 15s Od Gosforth . Hasting's Hartley l4s 9d Wharncliffe Ilolywell Main lss Od Eden Main Tanfield Moor rantield Moor Butes... 13s 6d West Cornforth .. l7s 9d Wylam W est Hartley ___ 15s Od Sidney's Hartley Ships at iarket, 135. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, JAN. 8. STOCTX ExcHANGE.—The sales are—Birmingham, Black burn Canal, and West Yorkshires, No. 1, 5 3 / 4 ex int.—East Lancashire, 251. Shares, 6 1 / s dis. ex iut.—Great Northern (13 Shares), 6 per cent., 2 dis. ex int.—Lancashire and York shire (late Manchester and Birmingham), 1. ifths, 3 dis. London and North-Western, New Quarters, 2 1 / s p.—Man chester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, Eighths, 5 3 / 4 dis. ex int.—Ditto, 201. Shares, 10% dis. ex int.—Ditto, Quarters, 5 3 / 4 c. dis. ex int.—Midland Stock, 87—Ditto, New Halves, 078 dis. ex int.—South-Eastern and Dover, No. 4, Thirds, 71. I ls. Bd.—York, Newcastle, and Berwick (G. N. E. Pur chase), is dis ex int. MANCHESTER, JAY. 8. 'Srocg. EXCHANGE.—The sales are—South-Eastern and Dover, No. 4,7% cum int.—Ditto, 7 5-16 ex int.—Hull and Selby, 99:14—Ditto, Halves, 4978—Huddersfield, Thirds, 8 1 41 .—Grimsby Docks, 12 3-16 dis.—Sheffield and Lincoln, 12 1 / S dis.--Shef f ield, Eighths, 5% dis.—London, New Quar ters, 2 1 / 4 p.—Caledonian, Preference, p.—Leeds, Fifths, dis.—Manchester and Birmingham, Quarters (C), p.—East Lancashire, New, 6% dis.—North Statiorushire, 3 11-16 dis. EXTRAORDINARY CASE. On Saturday Mr. Shaw, the inspector of the P division of police, made a communition to the magistrates of the Croydon district, in reference to a case which has been under consideration by them for several weeks, and the circumstances connected with which are of a very sin gular character. It appears that more than a month back an application was made to the magistrates for a warrant to apprehend Mr. Thomas Powell, a gentleman who had been residing at Burgh House, near Croydon, upon the charge of ob taining motley by means of false cheques, and one was accordingly placed in the hands pf Shaw. He was, however, unable, to meet with the defendant, but after the warrant had been granted a short time Mr. Powell sent notice that he would attend at the police-station on a certain day and be ready to answer any charge that might be preferred against him. He accordingly attended, and, after a preliminary inquiry, tho matter was adjourned until the following Saturday, bail being taken for the appearance of the defendant, at the next bench day. When the period arrived for the second examination, Mr, Powell did not appear, but Mr. Watts, of Old Broad-street, his solicitor, attended on his behalf, and put in a certificate signed by 1)r. Southwood Smith, testifying that the defendant was in a dangerous state of illness—in fact that he was insane and utterly unfit to appear and undergo an examination, and standtliem a o g v i e s r t r f a o t r e s a u f p o o r n t n t i h g i h s t c o nDs During rnitnegd thisto a l i l n o w t e r t v h a e l c i a t s eto was af; ascertained that there were several other cases in which the party accused had obtained money by means of forged cheques, and from the information obtained by the police, there also appeared very good reason for be lieving, that, although the defendant was no doubt very ill, and that his brain was to some extent affected, yet that this state had been produced by artificial means— by the excessive use of opium and . resorting to the expedient of igniting charcoal in his bedroom, the object being to produce a temporary state of deli rium, in the expectation by that means to evade justice. Whets the day appointed for the second exa mination arrived, the defendant again failed to surren der, but his solicitor appeared for him, and Mr. Howard, of Norfolk-street, was also present as the profes sional adviser of the gentlemen who had become sureties for the accused party. Upon this occasion, to the sur prise of the bench, it was stated by Mr. Watts, that the defendant was in a lunatic asylum, raving mad, and the certificate of the keeper of Miles's Lunatic Asylum at Hoxton was produced, which stated that Mr. Powell had been admitted to the establishment upon a certificate of his lunacy, signed by Dr. S. Smith and Dr. Montagu Gossett. Mr. Adams, the chairman of the bench, ex pressed the surprise of the magistrate at this course of proceeding, and at the same time their determination not to allow the ends of justice to be defeated. The defendant's solicitor assured the bench that he was no party to such a proceeding, and said that by whatever means the madness of the defendant was occasioned, there could be no doubt of his being in that state, and that he was consequently quite unfit to undergo an examination or to be called upon to give any answer to the charge. Mr. Howard then made an application to the bench to discharge the recognizances of Dr. Ryan and Mr. Machell, the gentlemen who had become sureties for the defendant surrendering himself. He said they were quite willing to perform the condition they had imposed upon themselves, and as they were prevented from doing so by the act of God, he submitted to the bench that they were, under such circumstances, entitled to be re lieved from further responsibility. Mr. Sutherland, one of the magistrates, in answer to the application, said that the bench were not at all satisfied that the condi tion of the defendant was occasioned by the act of God; but, ou the contrary, from the information they had re ceived, they had good reason to believe tbat the defen dant, by the use of opium and other means, had reduced himself to his present condition, in the expectation that be would be enabled by this proceeding to evade justice. l he niedv c iv a rn) s gd e , e trh t h es e u illness circumstancesefs. r s on a wo t u h l d e pro responsibilitytbhaebyl could o only u l d red of producing the defendant. After theynlbfeo t ste t ti h m h e i h a p n d k or we r e i a ( t r ) , f c y u'r t he case, the illness would probably only be tempora r y, a some further discussion the magistrates enlarged the recognizances of the bail, and the matter was ordered to stand over, directions being given to the police to make the necessary inquiries for the satisfaction of the bench. The inspector now reported that he had been to the asylum where the accused gentleman was con fined, and had been admitted to see h'm, and he was evidently at present in a state of insanity ; but he said he had received an assurance that the moment his condi tion improved so as to enable him to undergo an exa mination he should be brought before the bench, and he had also taken other measures to insure this result, and prevent a failure of justice. Thus the matter stands at present, the case having, from the singular nature of the proceediegs connectee with it, and the position in life of the defendant, created a good deal of interest. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. SOUTH DEVON. On Saturday the extraordinary general meeting of the proprietors of this company was held at Exeter, called by special requisition to the directors, to con sider and decide upon the question, as to whether the atmospheric system of traction should be finally abandoned, or be the subject of another trial. There was a very crowded attendance of proprie tors, special trains having been placed for the purpose of conveying them, both by the South Devon and Bristol and Exeter lines. At twelve o'clock, J. W. Woollcombe, Esq., chair man of the directors, entered with the following members of the board :—Lord Courtenay, Charles Russell, Esq., chairman of the Great Western Rail way ; Frederick Pratt Barlow, Esq., J. W. Buller, Esq., T. Gill, Esq., M.P., Mr. Brunel, the engineer; Mr. Badham, secretary of the Bristol and Exeter Railway; Mr. Clarke, manager at Bristol, &c. The CHAIRMAN, having read the requisition by which the meeting was convened; rose and said that, before they proceeded to the business of the meeting, he was anxious to say a few words. All that was necessary for him to remark would be to point out that every expedition had been used on the part of the directors to place before the shareholders their opinion on the great question they had that day to determine. The pamphlet by Mr. Gill, that had formed the sub ject of the requisition, was considered at the earliest meeting of the board on the sth of December, when a committee, consisting of himself, Mr. Russell, and Mr. Buller, were appointed to investigate and report upon the subject. On the Ist of January that report was made after the first reference was made to the committee. Had the report been made at an earlier date, the committee would not have been able to do justice to the subject referred to; for he need hardly say that a period of twenty-six or twenty-seven days was by no means too long for three gentlemen to come to a conclusion, who were living more than 200 miles apart, and who necessarily must have had to commu nicate not only with one another, but with their officers on the subject. Mr. CHILCOTT, the representative of a body of Bris tol shareholders, said be had come down to propose some means by which, if possible, the company might be put in a more healthy , tone and substantial position, and thereby to restore confidence to the shareholders. The pamphlet from Mr. Gill had at last roused the shareholders from their apathy. This had produced the meeting at Bristol, at which he (Mr. C.), who had but one object in view, presided. To show the unanimity of feeling which existed in the minds of the proprietors, he had had put into his hands, in the shape of proxies, 12,338 old shares and half shares, which were together equal to 16,051 old shares. The plan he proposed was to appoint a committee—(Long and vociferous applause)—not so much in opposition to the directors, as to assist them in gaining the confidence of the shareholders, which they themselves seemed to think they had no power to obtain. The resolution to which the Bristol meet-' ing had come was, that a committee should be ap pointed to inquire into the statements contained in the recent pamphlet published by Mr. Gill ; secondly, to ascertain what was the most suitable mode of working the South Devon Railway ; and, thirdly, to inquire into the financial and other affairs of the company, and to determine what measures were most expedient to be adopted, and to report to the share holders at the general meeting in February next. He begged distinctly to state his views with respect to the atmospheric principle ; for many persons sup posed that he was its advocate, and that he wished the proprietors to risk more money in that under taking. This he distinctly denied ; for he would not spend one half-crown in any speculative undertaking connected with the atmospheric. On the other hand, if any one with security satisfactory to the company would carry out that principle at his own risk and with the consent of the engineer, he (Mr. Chilcott) affirmed that they would be shutting their eyes to all scientific improvement if they did not allow such a trial to be made. Mr. Chilcott concluded amid applause by proposing, "That a committee of share holders be appointed to inquire into the affairs of the company, in the terms of the requisition dated the 16th of December last, and to report thereon simul taneously with the next half-yearly meeting, with free access to all books, persons, and papers." Mr. WILLIAM Fox (formerly a director) seconded the resolution. Mr. HAWSER (formerly a director) coincided as.to the necessity of a committee of inquiry. It would be unwise to abandon the atmospheric system all at once, without seeing if there Were not some means of making the already outlaid capital productive. Mr. HUTTON, of Bristol, expressed a hope that some steps would be taken by which the shareholders might be enabled to inspect the books of the company. Mr. Fxr, of Bristol, attended to oppose the con tinuance of the atmospheric principle of traction. The late meeting at Bristol did not, it must be un derstood, represent the sentiments of the whole of the proprietors resident there. Ile proposed an amend ment to the effect that " the suspension of the atmo spheric system on the 9th of November was a prudent and necessary step, and that nothing had since oc curred to justify its resumption; that inasmuch as the directors stated that no offer had been made to perfect the system at the risk of other parties, measures should be taken to realise for the company the full value of the atmospheric property ; and finally, that the directors be requested to direct their immediate and earnest attention to the best means of reducing the charge for locomotive working to the greatest extent that circumstances may permit."—(Applause.) The anticipation of the abandonment of the atmo spheric had already raised the price of shares in the market considerably. The atmospheric, from the commencement, had only been an experiment, and the time was now come when they might assert that it had failed. As regarded the comparative cost of the atmospheric and the locomotive, upwards of 300,0001. bad already been spent on the atmospheric, and it would cost 250,0001. more to extend the sys tem to Plymouth—that was, supposing the present experiment to be successful. This would make the cost 550,0001. for the atmospheric. He calculated that 100,0001. would be sufficient for a locomotive establishment, which, added to the sum already ex pended, would make 400,0001., from which was to be deducted 50,0001. as the probable selling price of the atmospheric apparatus, which would leave 350,000/. as the total cost, including locomotives, so that they would save 200,000/. as compared with finishing the atmospheric. While he found that the cost per mile of working the locomotive was is. 4d., that of the atmospheric was ls. 7d., and it was unne cessary to add anything more in avour of the pro position. Dr. TRIPE seconded the amendment. He con sidered the atmospheric to be a signal failure, and that it ought finally to be abondoned. Mr. SECOMBE contended, at great length, that the atmospheric system was a failure. Mr. FRANCE-considered it would be unwise finally to abandon the atmospheric system without some en deavours being made to render the apparatus they had expended so much money upon available. The CHAIRMAN said he held in his band no fewer than nine projects for carrying on the atmospheric system, most of them, no doubt, very plausible, but the directors had determined not to expend another shilling on experiments of any sort.—(Applause.) Mr. GILL, M.P., the late Chairman, then rose and said he would take that opportunity of referring to the reply of the directors to the pamphlet he had published, two or three of the sections of which he would notice. The Hon. Gentleman disclaimed all ideas of mercenary or self- interested motives in adopt ing his present line of policy, and proceeded to show, by elaborate calculation, that the figures in the direc tors' report were erroneous, that the cost of working the atmospheric was over-estimated, and also that the calculations of his own pamphlet were correct, seeing that he had since tested them by the Great Western accounts. He denied the accuracy of the directors' statement altogether. All sorts of odium had been attempted to be cast on him in the directors' report. Imputations of inaccuracy, grossly inaccurate and ex aggerated inferences—facts kept out of sight, erro neous assumptions, dangerous fallacies, delusive conclu sions. Whether he had been guilty of all these it was not for him to decide. Any information which he possessed with respect to the property of the shareholders he had always felt it his duty to give when he was asked, unless such information might be prejudicial to the interests of the company. He had always acted on that principle. Since the publi cation of his pamphlet he had had numerous applica tions for information. He did not mean to disguise that he had given information wherever it was desired consistently with his position. It had been said that he (Mr. Gill) had recommended them to continue to 111 r. Samuda's valve, but it must be borne in mind that Mr. Samuda's altered valve was the best thing that was before him. As Mr. Brunel, in his report, had said it was quite possible that the valve might be I made perfect, that was his (Mr. Gill's) reason for his recommendation, but he had cause to believe that Mr. Samuda's valve was not the best. He would not say it was not the worst, for he held in his hand no fewer than 25 projects, all of which he would put into the hands of the committee if they would have one. —(Cries of " We'll have one.") But there was one of those projects to which he wished to call special attention. The Honourable Gentleman then read a letter which he had received from the agent of Messrs. Clarke and Varley, in which they stated that they were ready to lay down their system on the South Devon line for two miles, to expend - 10,000/. themselves, to work the line for six months at their own cost, and if at the end of that time the experiment should be found to be unsuccessful, they would bear the whole cost; but if it should be successful, they would agree to lay the whole line down at 5,0001. per mile, and to work it at ls. per train per mile. He thought they would be insane if, they were to refuse such an offer as this. The Hon. Gentleman, in con- elusion. disclaimed anythin7l;ke a hostile feelirw. and sat down amid applause. The CHAIRMAN replied, and in the course of his address adduced other arguments to show that the calculations contained in the directors' report were correct, with this exception, that whereas they had calculated that the cost of the locomotive was ls. 4d. per train per mile, on examination it turned out that it was ls. 4d. and 1-10th ; and that with respect to the charge between Newton and Ply mouth, they were in error so far, that instead of ls. 91 per train per mile, it cost ls. 9d. and 1-20th. He confessed he was astonished to hear a gentleman who had put forward a pamphlet to prove the extreme value of the atmospheric system now say that he did not care one sixpence about the atmospheric system. He (the Chairman) thought:that when they investigated the proposal of Messrs. Clarke and Par ley they would find that it was not quite so favour able as had been represented. Taken at 5,0001. per mile, it would come to 250,0001., while a large por tion of the line would have to be made double, and it would be unwise policy for the company to throw its whole system of working into confusion to try an experiment, at the end of which they would have 250,0001. staring them in the face. The atmospheric system had been tried, and fairly tried ; and having failed, the sooner they abandoned it the better. Mr. W.A. WILKINsoN, late Chairman of the Croy don Railway, entered into a lengthened defence of the atmospheric, and supported the motion for a com mittee, in the course of which he contended that the board was unfairly constituted, that there was a preponderance of Great Western influence, and that if the shareholders had not the power at present to alter the constitution of the board, he thought Parliamentary powers should be applied for for the purpose. Mr. CHARLES RUSSELL, Chairman of the Great Western, replied, and read a correspondence he had had with Mr. Gill, three years ago, in which it was shown that the Great Western directors were very much opposed to the atmospheric principle, that its adoption was carried against their wish, and that no steps whatever had ever been taken by the Great Western directors to obtain a decision adverse to that which was the opinion of the South Devon directors. Mr. J. W. BULLER, en the part of the directors of the Bristol and Exeter Railway, repudiated the im putation that undue influence had been used by the associated companies. After some observations from several shareholders, considerable confusion, and cries of " Vote," the amendment was put from the chair, and declared to be lost by a show of hands • upon which Mr. FRY demanded a poll, which was followed by great confu . siOn, the supporters of the original reso lution contending that that should be put before the poll was taken. After considerable. altercation, the original motion was put, and declared to be carried by a show of hands. Mr. Far again demanded a poll, and again consi derable confusion was created by it being declared that the poll would be taken on the amendment. It was, however, . ultimately arranged that the poll should be taken for the original motion and against the amendment. Scrutineers were then appointed, and at half-past five they proceeded to their labours, and at half-past eight returned, when The CHAIRMAN said the following is the report of the scrutineers For the original thotion— Present Proxies ... 645 . 1,630 For the amendment— Present • • Proxies ... 576 5,324 -5,900 Majority for the amendment 3,625 Mr. CHILCOTT then proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman, and complimented him on the urbanity with which he had conducted the business of the dal in the difficult position in which he had been ple.ced• Mr. SECOMBE seconded this motion. The CHAIRMAN, in returning thanks, complimented Mr. Chilcott on the manner in which he had cow ducted the important business that had been intrusted to him. It was alike creditable to himself, end to those whom he represented. Mr. Fax expressed a hope that the meetings of the, company would in future be held in Exeter in; ;teed of at Plymouth. The CHAIRMAN said the subject should have the consideration of the board. The meeting then separated at half-past eigent. THE RATING OF RAILWAYS.--On Thursi lay, at the Northumberland Quarter Sessioas, an ar peal o the York, Newcastle, and Berwick Railwa27 Corn pany, against the rate of the. Lesbury °verso irs, Wag heard by the magistrates. The overseers be .d rate ( ' the three miles of the line running throui ;h their township, on the , mileage principle, taking int o calctl" lation the income of the entire line from Yorli . to Bev' wick, a !distance of 320 miles. This, ace( ,rding to the weekly returns of the traffic of the lir le, at the average of 13,000/. per week, made the company rateable at 6661. 13s. 4d. per mile. Mr. Granger, who appeared for the company, submitted that the only way in which the company ought to , be rated was on her per tentage principle, accordil ig to the actual value of that part of the line situate d at the township of Lesbury ; and that instead of tl ie calor . tion being formed from Berwick to York, it n not onli be based on the traffic returns from Berwick to New . : castle. After the case had been heard at grc - tt t leng t hy the bench confirmed the rate, stating that ti ley we re of opinion that the mileage principle , based i W on the returns of the entire line, was the better c ours° t ° adopt of the two, as applicable to railw oar cases" Another - appeal by the same company was .I;:eard• which they complained of the conviction of two magiitrates, in respect of the repairs of a certain roil in the township of Addison, which had been damage d and cut up by the company's carts, while formine e , railway at that part of the line. Several techni cal objections were taken to the conviction by Mr. Otter, one of which being held fatal by the Bench, the con- viction was quashed.—Gateshead Observer. CONWAY TUBULAR BRIDGE.—The deflexion which took place last week, at the testing of the second tube over the river Conway, by Captain Symonds' the: Government Inspector, was very slight, .and the result highly satisfactory. Before any of the testing weights were drawn into the tunnel it was ascer tained that the deflexion then existing was 1 8 6 inches. The testing ballast, amounting to 235 tone, , 14 cwt. and 2 qrs., caused an additional deflexion of 1-50 inches only, thereby showing that, with the whole of the above superimposed weight, the depar' ; ture from a straight line was only to the extent 0 ° 3-42 inches. The load having been withdrawn, i less than ten minutes the whole structure regained i - former deflexion. The variation in the tube, whi' has now been in use for so many months, does ir '" we believe, extend to the sixteenth part of an inch. The works of the N o rth-Eastern Extension of ' „ Leeds and Thirsk are progressing rapidly in °- vicinity of Yarm. The Caledonian Railway Company have disc 0 1 ,1 tinued one train each way from Carlisle, Edinbu tt and Glasgow. GREAT SOUTHERN AND WESTERN (IRELAND )":, There was an inspection of the line from Tipp( flye 4 to Buttevant this week, and it is understood that; A not intended to open this portion at present but 43 go! , until the line is completed to Mallow, which arrw i 8 ments have been made to finish early in March, 0 4 , the line will be opened for traffic by the midi lie that month. The company has entered into a , con, tract with the town coaches to and from the 20,51 1054 station to Cork, and to have sufficient vehicles t ° ' carry any number of passengers travelling by trail ] ; Passengers will be booked in Cork to be forward ed t: to Dublin, and in Dublin for transit to Cork.--CO' ° Constitution. DUBLIN AND BELFAST JUNCTION.—It is said the re is a prospect of the funds ( 2 50,0001.) required f °f the completion of this line being forthwith procured. . BIRTHS. On the 19th ult., at Malta, the wife of Captain E. l ' :. Hughes Ballet, R.N., of a son. b' On the 30 th ult ., i n William -street, Lowndes-squarer - t wife of R. F. Browne, of a daughter. r • i , On the 3d inst., at Hunston-hall, Suffolk, the lady o f H . Heigham, Esq., of a son. 0 rs On the 4th inst., at Upper Norwood, the lady of 3. Kaye, Esq., of a daughter. ff •On the 6th inst., at John-street, .Bedford-row, the Iv a. " A. Henry, Esq., of a son. On the sth inst., at Upper Gower•street, the wife of G . Phillip, Esq., of a daughter. WO .f At Vere-street, Cavendish-square, Mrs. Campbell Die— of a daughter. _---- MARRIED. At Minster, Isle of Sheppey, Joshua Hudson, E sq , of L° <' 11 ' • don, , C.E. to Anna Maria , eldest daughter of George • 13114 land, Esq , of her Majesty's Dockyard, Sheerness. •r? ir , ' On the 4th inst. , et All Saint's, Paddington, by the A-etc.# C. Waring Saxton , D.D , hi s sister, Emily Mary Saxt on ' " William H. Crichton, Lieutenant 38th Regiment M.N. DIED. vairat' On the 28th ult,, at Windsor, aged 59, Henry ... Dawe, Esq. 6- On the . Bth ult., at St. Alb an ' s , H er t a , age d 90, Ricer Kentish, Esq., of that place. rro ler' On the 30th ult., at the Shield-field, Newcastle-upan' ''-' aged 51, James Reid, Esq., Belgian Consul at that plee'' 00' - On the 2d inst., in the Old Kent-road, Banks, relict of Mr. S. Banks, aged 89 . J ohn ot r On the 4th inst.. at Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, bard, Esq., aged 74. d 7 7 ' On the sth inst., at Highbury, Mrs. Mary Tyas, age ~,, On the sth inst., at 71, Fleet-street, aged 61, Mr. Ebencrr; e Olding, youngest son of the late John Olding, Esq., at Co bill, banker. Mrs.CatlLsr ic I° ' On the sth inst., at Longbridge-house, near War , P / aged 71, Marianne, only surviving daughter of the late Standen, Esq. --:' c_i London: Printed and Published by MURDO YO No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Office, NO. Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the cons Middlesex, Tuesday, January 9, 1.949.