The Sun. — London, England, 1842-12-28 00:00:00

*ith the Greenwich Railway Gompany to get them to 4 3difi their toll. LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC. The public records in the care of Sir Francis Pal vet are, undergoing classification and reparation. y contain a vast body of historical and antiqua -20t184 information : the charters alone amount to l i ft Out of the total number of documents _ 56 7 have gone through the requisite processes, and ! already accessible : the entire mass of records con 's about 388,400 on the whole. , 1 4 . 1 1 astronomer of New York, states from scientific gatiservation, that extraordinary changes are taking Ch's in the solar system. The inclination of the The axis with the ecliptic he shows to be changing. , o le poles of the planet Venus are changing, and her ti i s ° , ll r approaching to a deep red : Herschel is dimi co 'ling in size, and Saturn appears to be partly in t p ti fiagration. The statements are announced with ` seriousness and gravity. COURT-rAsELTONABLE. „ule Dowager Countess of Essex and Miss John tZte have returned from a visit to Mr. and Mrs. Er- Pon, at Newnham Paddox, Warwickshire. e , ord Adolphus Fitzclarence has returnee:l from a i i tt to the Duke and Duchess of Bedford, at Woburn upey, It Count and CoUntess d'Harcourt have returned to Onchester House. on a visit to Mr. and Mrs. Wil- Harcourt, at St. Leonard's, near Windsor. t.." 10 t(1 and Lady Carteret ate passing the winter at ' 44 waes-place, near Ampthill, Bedfordshire, where •1,'): have been entertaining a select party. is Excellency the French Ambassador and the Ti nteSS St. Aulaire have accepted the Duke of Beau invitation to join the circle at Badminton Park, c7 o 't will leave town, accompanied by Count and L libtess d'Harcourt, on a visit to his Grace, and af 7/ards proceed to Bowood, on a visit to the Mar and Marchioness of Lansdowne, who have in a select party to meet his Excellency. L'ir- and Lady Caroline Maxse have arrived at &ley Castle, on a visit to Earl Fitzhardinge, from inton, the seat of the Dake of Beaufort. The® Proved Duchess of Hamilton, whose health has greatly by her sojourn at Baden-Baden, is still at ( .I.. lnheim. The Duke of Hamilton is passing the " r tstmas at Hamilton Palace, Lanarkshire. A MISCELLANEOUS. 1 0 1 Lewes and Brighton, Monday last was kept as h ,'Cdav, in commemoration of the British victories "Irldia and China. Ai,.Pwards of I,oooi persons visited Westminster , i f; )e y during Monday and xesterdaY, and more than C Persons the United Service Institution. On the ler day, more than 2,000 persons paid for admis -04 to the Royal Adelaide Gallery after seven o'clock. O ,A serious fire occurred on Thursday last, near the e of Westonzoyland, by Bridgewater, occasioned a fire balloon, the machine of which burst in the ta " , and falling, ' ignited a stack, which, with two " 2 1s, were consumed. INTELLIGENCE. 1 GUILDHALL.—.(THIS DAY.) %_lizabeth Jay was placed at the bar, before Sir I s 4 Pman Marshall, on a charge, of having created a f Ourbance in the streets, and attempted to throw Alf from London-bridge. 'tPolice constable stated, that at about twelve Lock to-day the defendant was proceeding towards h er intention crying most bitterly, and announcing t,',lntention of throwing herself into the river. He C ti k her into custody, and her conduct at the station use was very violent. The MAGISTRATE—What do you say the charge, i 's. ;Tay ? Defendant—l am a spinster, Sir, if you 41,7 4 : e• She then proceeded to say that she lived in I 'B l 1 -Street. She had had some domestic troubles, 4 1 . 1 ° 1 1, preyed greatly on her mind, and crying was a to her. Tears, you know (she continued), are 7°/nan's arm. i h " e MAGISTRATE, seeing that the poor woman's t c ,mi appeared affected, ordered her to be taken till 01, crrow to the Compter, and that inquiries should he meantime be made respecting her. BOW STREET.—(THIS DAY.) Sarah Tutton, a laundress, was charged with steal a large quantity of sheets, table linen, and other 11 , 1 eleg L the property of Mr. Lyon, of Southampton- Strand. a The articles had been entisted to the prisoner to i t 'n, and she had pawned them. They were found ta,Pawnbroker's, subsequently having been pledged pne prisoner. She was given into custody. e prisoner, in her defence, said she was very 4" 0 1 distressed, and, having nothing in the house, pled ge d the articles for a week. ' 1 , 1 . 1 e was committed to Newgate for trial. t t 'e'nry Stacey and Joseph Newman, two boys about were charged with stealing a quantity of cigars, The of Mr. Harrison, of Hungerford - arcade. ct he t wo pr i soners wa lk e d d e lib e rately into the 3) and took away the cigars. When taken into k mtody they said they wanted a halfpenny cigar, and no one was there to serve them they helped them es. o,!tr• TWYFORD sent them to the House of Corree ),cr„ for. a month, accompanying the committment ` ll a recommendation to the Governm : to whip them „ARYLEBONE.4—(THIS DAY.) tr o rarles Newry, Thomas Knight, Thomas West, 4,,” Kelly, and George Hayes, five boys, the oldest t i " fourteen, were charged on the sheet with being toll rid asleep in Portman-market, supposed with intent L ommit felony. RAWLINSON said it was ridiculous to say that t oi e boys found asleep, were there with intent to corn t f th e elony. He never hemd that going to sleep was k te .rnost likely way to commit a felony, and it; in th of taking them to the station-house on such a ` ti b ar g ,e the constable had delivered them over to their !rits, he thought it would have been the better way. thl caice-constable, 104 D said, the boys were bad :a•oters. e l l% RAWLINSOIC—Do me the favour to find out 1 1 1, 1. parents, and take them home to them, In cases Lthese I see no better course to adopt. T he boy ' s then left in charge of the constable. 'OYD'S SHIPPING-(THIS DAY) tOIIIDo N DEC. 28.—Wind this day at noon, W. to Ix, light airs and fine. b ) ,'"AUSGATE, DEC. 27.--Arrd. Caroline Amelia, Al :4 for Havannah. The Romulus, from St. Übes to Oh, lost rudder, anchors, and chains, &c., and drove lolarils the Goodwin, but was assisted in here with of bowsprit, figure-head, cutwater, &c. 4 4 1 1 NAL, DEC. 27.—Wind S.W. moderate. — Arrd. 1 ; :doe, Hamburgh for Monte Video. Throughout t a Laight it blew a heavy gale at S.W., but mode atth 10 ; the greater part of the vessels () Zel and ran for Ramsgate. VII' DOTER, DEC. 27,-:Matilda, Livesay, Hobart ) ; i n, sailed Sept. 7. 1:?ItTSMOUTII, DEC. 27.—Wind W.N.W. to W.— t o i, r q„ • Dorothea, Smith, Cuba; Elizabeth, London, Mobile, put back ; Philadelphia, New York. k e , l l, k w Es, DEC. 27.—Arrd. Labouchere, London, for Thomas. P LYMOUTH, DEC. 27.—Wind N.W.—Arrived Ngi b la, Hale, Iliramichi. ALNIOUTH, DEC. 27.—Wind W.S.W., fresh h it es and squally.—Arrd. Isabella, London, for De- Sld. Lady Mary Wood (steamer), Gibral tiv' The Dew-drop, Farler, from Newfoundland, ar -4 ed here yesterday, leaky, with part of cargo thrown I k e :board and loss of sails, bulwarks, &c., having 11 Pooped by a sea 12th inst., lat. 45, lon. 38. The y °ll od, from Figueras to Newfoundland, put in here opterday with part of cargo thrown overboard, loss L fore and m a i nmas t s and bowsprit, stanchions, a r ts, sails, &c., having been struck by a sea and c ,°Wn on her beam ends 16th inst., lat. 44, lon. 3 6. VtivDERLAND, DEC. 25.—Arrd. Persian, Fisher, ` 4 tatnichi. 4 ~ I . IIOM NESS , DEC. 19.—Arrd. Richmond Lass, k e °ll 3tadt for Liverpool, with loss of boats, bulwarks, tio: The Caledonian, from Bay Chaleur to the Clyde, 1 ' ashore, 17th inst., in Rackwick Bay, Island of 7 , and is expected to become a wreck ; crew saved. ARMOUTB, DEC. 27.—The John and Elizabeth, ni Montrose to London, struck on the Barnard sand, cerday evening, and was subsequently run on the 11 , making a great deal of water ; cargo discharging. ~,."'IVERPOOL, DEC. 27.—Wind variable. — Arrd. kVao, Mann, Africa, sailed Sept. 30; Howard, Hill, Orleans ; Granada, Hammond, Savannah ; Hi 4,snia, Bunting, Charleston, sailed 4th inst. • Snow jsc, navies, Africa, with loss of sails off the Western A a 4 Ms, sailed from Camacoons Oct. 24. Arrd. off, Ir la s am, Calcutta. Sld. Mary, ' Rio Janeiro; Esqui heux, Trinidad; Andrew a Scott, Charleston; Patrick 111 'Y New York. I),tm'LiN, DEC. 24.—Arrd. Energy, Quebec. A zi 'IMOSTOWN, DEC. 26,..—Arrd. Antelope, James, l 'ee Edward's Island ; John and Mary, Quebec. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. i p ETTING AT MANCHESTER.—TuEsnAv. 111 . 1 1(.-8 to 1 agst A British Yeoman (t freely), 25 V i ßst Aristides (t), 25 to 1 agst Murat, 33 to 1 agst trlltiesour, 35 to 1 agst Progress colt, 40 to 1 agst New tol?,4 to 1 agst Blackdrop, 50 to 1 agst Chesterfield, I ' l agst Everton. 50 to 1 agst Sir Valentine (t), 40 t qh - agst Napier, 40 to 1 agst Sirikol, 1000 to 15 agst SeoiFish c, 1000 to 15 agst Lueetta c (t), 5i to 1 agst lot (off ere d), 15 to 1 a gst Sir G. Heathcote's lot. t l i t c 'ullanqu.—At the Caledonian Meeting over the atm . e ' of Hamilton's lands on Wednesday, Thur3day, q er Saturday last, the Highland Stakes of 35/. value Grate won by Mr. G. Pollock's Young Sport ; Mr. A. I,sc..4rn's, Alexander ran up.—The Lowland Stakes of tow won by Dr. Brown's Heather Jock, Mr. Wat- N )0 8 Ide eswing running up. Heather Jock and Young 4,1 1. , t then ran together for the Caledonian Cup of 4r st "?l'S., which was won by Dr_ Brown's dog in the Zlr ot ,"vo coursehe Thistle Stakes ere won by Dr. Stevvar ton Bonnet-maker. w 'ek ~r '~ 1~~ 13 RKET NEWS. (THIS DAY.) CORN EXCHANGE—WEDNESDAY We had an unusually small supply of English Wheat here to-day ; indeed, scarcely a fresh parcel arrived since Monday. Fine dry qualities commanded rather more money, with a firm inquiry, and the value of all other kinds was steadily maintaincd. In Foreign Wheat a steady business was passing, at, in some instances, an advance of is per quarter, while bonded descriptions were held at improved rates. Malting and grinding barley was quite as dear, but distillers' sorts were a mere drug. Malt, and all other grain, was unaltered. English Wheat. :5204r5. ARRIVALS. Barley. Oata. Flour. I 1 6,310 qrs. 3,610 qn SOO sat La 5,400 --. 380 Malt, 1,670 gra WHZTECKAPEL. Irbil I Foreign 1,020 The supply of meat on offer here to-dav was good, while the demand ruled steady, at the following prices ;—Beef, from 3s 2d to 4s ; Mutton, 3s 4d to 4s 2d; Veal, 3s 6d to 4s 2d; and Pork, 3s 8d to 4s 4d per Blbs, by the carcase. COUNTRY CORN MARKETS. Oats. Pease. Wheat. S. to E. 48 72 40 43 52 56 s.d. x.d. 63 70 76 80 60 741 Second Ditto...—. 1 7 Bari eym oal Peasemeal .. 1 4 Pot Barley from 2' 11 0 136 68 70 40 54 106 11 6 0 0 7 0 4 0 50 11 0 14 0 7 6 8 0 4 0 50 110 140 70 8 0 4 0 50 EDINBURGH MEAL MARK ick of 2iolbs. Per Stone neal .......£1 10 0 I First Oatmeg Second ditto, Barleymed , Peasomeal... 'B. to 2JB. per 87 Barley. Beans. s. to 8. 46 40 42 35 49 5..1. s. d b 6 00 5. 53 b 6 60 6 100 •0 90 90 100 90 10 01 S. to s. s.d. s.d. So 00 OS So 00 •• IS 00 PO 00 It 00 00 0 of 141 b. X 0 1 8 0 1 fi 0 1 6 ...... 0 1 6 lack. MONEY and COMMERCIAL NEWS. CITY, QUARTER TO THREE. In the Cotton-market at Liverpool, yesterday, there was a fair demand from the trade, the sales being 4,000 bales, at previous rates. The Share-market had rather improved. Paris and Rouen were a shade higher; Birmingham and Gloucester Scrip were marked 12i ; Eastern Counties, 8K ; Edinburgh and Glasgow, 471; Grand Junction, 190 ; Birmingham Thirds, 631; Brighton, 36k; and Paris and Rouen, 264. Accounts from Hobart Town of Sept. 2, and from Launceston of September 1, notice the important fact of a reduction in the rate of interest charged upon the discount of bona fide bills by the banks, from 10 to 8 per cent., and on mortgages from 121 to 10 per cent. To meet this increased accommoda tion to the public, no interest was to be allowed to depositors, and the Governor had consented to let the public money remain without interest, the same as that of the other customers. His Excellency, in his speech upon the opening of the Legislature, seems to anticipate great relief to the colony from this mea sure, and from the abundant crops, intimating, at the same time, his intention to assign convicts as labour ers while the stoppage of immigration continued. Flour was lower, and stock could be bought very cheap. From Sydney there is nothing later than Aug. 20, when less was doing in manufactured goods. Ship ments of flour to some extent were going on. We learn also by this indirect opportunity that the river Yarra, at Port Philip, had broken its banks, and flooded the country, causing much damage. The crops were expected to be good, and such as to yield a surplus for exportation. Letters received at Port Phillip, from South Australia, give a very gloomy picture of the state of affairs there; and the contention at New Zealand between the settlers and the Govern ment, though, as we believe, very grossly exaggerated, was expected to lead to re-emigration. That the principles of free-trade are appreciated in America, the following remarks prove :—" The late Tariff of Great Britain was enacted with the view of encouraging the import of American agricultural pro duce into England, in exchange for her manufactures, as a means of relief. The late Tariff of the United States was enacted with the view to exclude foreign goods, for the protection of manufactures. Hence it is seen that England will not be able to sell goods enough here to pay for the raw cotton which she must have, and which she cannot get elsewhere. All beyond which she imports from this country she must pay for in coin, which cannot be done to any extent and preserve her paper system. Hence it becomes with her an urgent matter of self-defence, to prohibit the import of everything of United States growth, except cotton. It is not matter of conveni ence, nor of State policy, but of urgent State ne cessity.' Unless, therefore, our new tariff is promptly modified, the farmers are likely to lose, at a critical juncture, a large market for their produce, both English and colonial." When the Americans themselves write such sound sense, who shall assert that they are not likely to meet England in a fair spirit of commercial liberality ? English Stocks are well supported to-day, although the business doing is not extensive, and speculative operations have not been entered into, most of the transactions being bona fide. The purchase for the Commissioners of the Savings' Banks was again effected to about the usual amount in Reduced Three per Cent. Annuities at 94k. Exchequer Bills have realised 535. to 555.; and East India Bonds 475. to 48s. premium. Reduced Three-and-a-Half per Cents. have been done at 1011 to 1011. Consols are 93i to 934. The Foreign Market has been again rather ani mated, bnt there is a falling off in the business done as compared with yesterday in the Spanish Bonds, all the large holders being inclined, apparently, to take advantage of the rise got up by the parties putting forth the New Loan. The Actives have been quoted 19 i f to 18i, and the Three per Cents. 244 to 24i. Mexican Stock has touched 31i to 321 ; Colombian is firm at 2l ; Brazilian at 711; and _Buenos Ayres at 241 to 25. Portuguese Converted Stock has realised 34, and the Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cents. have been marked 53. Business in the Railway Shares is very inanimate, but prices are maintained. Great Western are 25, and Brighton Loan premium. Brighton are 13, and South Eastern 27i discount. PRICES OF SHARES THIS DAY AT ONE. RAILWAYS. Paid. Per Share. Great Western London and Brighton Ditto Loan Notes Midland Counties 100 Paris and Roue• . 20 26 South Eastern and Dever 5O Ditto Scrip JOINT STOIK BANKS. London and Westminster . .. 20 FOREIGN FUNDS. Spanish Bonds, Five per Cent...... 19,1 181 Ditto Three per Cent. MANCHESTER STOCK EXCHANGE,. DEC. 27.--We have had a steady market to-day, and prices continue firm. Dublin and Drogheda, 22*; Lancaster and Preston, 29 ; South Eastern Scrip, 17} 17i 17i ; Manchester and Birmingham, 20 to 204. GOSSIP ABOUT THE KIRK.—The following is an extract from the Edinburgh Observer :—During the last eight or ten days we have had a succession of rumours relative to "coming events" connected with the affairs of the Church. One of these is a revival of one which had its day, about two montbs ago, and before the late Convocation. We are credibly informed that a Bill has actually been seen bodily in L+ and is said to have obtained the approval of a Reverend Doctor of Divinity in this city, who is generally un derstood to have the confidence of the Government in some things. From this it has been inferred and asserted that the Queen's Ministers have given their fiat; and that this Bill, combining Lord Aberdeen's Bill of 1840 with Sir G. Sinclair's addenda, will be introduced into Parliament, under the auspices of Sir R. Peel and his colleagues ! In addition to this, some of the high men in town are stating, with the utmost confidence, that Dr. Chalmers or Dr. Gordon (for there are different editions of the story) has got a letter from Sir Robert Peel, to the effect that a Govern ment measure will be introduced when Parliament meets, which will prove quite satisfactory to the Convocationists, and prevent the secession of so krge a number of pious and illustrious clergymen from the pale of the Church; and supplementary to this, there was a schismatic report yesterday - (Thursday), that Sir James Graham had actually come to Edin burgh on Wednesday to arrange matters with Dr. Chalmers and his friends. A third report is, that Lord Melville and Sir George Clerk: are busying themselves in some healing measure ; arid a fourth is, that a certain learned functionary, who formerly took a great interest in these matters, is -nom • devoting all his leisure time to framing some Bill which is to meet the views of all parties, and place the Church in a position of amity and harmony.—EdinburghObserver. As a party of revenue police were smirching for poteen through the mountains of Barnes this week, they discovered a still-house, in which was a still at full work, and round the fire lay two men in a state of insensibility from intoxication, an d another man quite dead. The police did all in thei r power to re store animation, but in vain • the unfortunate man was called before his Maker ein a sta. te of drunken - ness. The two other men are slowly recovering. Private distillation to a gre at extent is going on throughout this and the neighbourhag counties.— Ballyshannon Herald. The Hon. F. Reginald Forbes is act :redited Minis ter Plenipotentiary to the Court of SUE Coburg Gotha, in addition to his functions at Dres den ; and Mr. Barnard is to reside at Coburg, as Chi rge d'Affaires. The Earl of Howth has sold his horn Ids and horses to the officers of the garrison of Dublin I. It is stated that his Lordship intends going abroad :For some time, in consequence of the death of his a Allah le Countess. IMPROVEMENTS IN PARIS. • Count de Rambuteau, the Prefect of the Seine, presented on Saturday to the Chamber of Commerce of Paris, an expose of his administration during the year 1842. After enumerating the streets, boulevards, and quays, that were either opened or improved in the course of the year, he described the immense works undertaken for ameliorating the navigation of the Seine, and for supplying Paris with water. Thirty million francs were expended since 1832 in comtruct ing sewers, laying down pipes, Nand placing the 1,390 fountains that now distribute the water of the Canallde l'Oureq and of the lignon, throughout all the quarters of the capital. Independently of these, the Artesian well of Grenelle has, ever since its tubing, furnished 1,600,000 litres of perfectly limpid water in 24 hours. The religious edifices had like. wise been an object of special solicitude with the Ad ministration, and large sums had been applied to the construction of ne N churches, and to the repairing of the old. The Municipal Council had granted two additional temples to the Protestants, the one in Rue Chauchat, and the other at Panthemont, and a new synagogue was to be built for the Israelites. The primary schools of Paris, which in 1834 were only 57 in number, are now 206, and the pupils exceed 37,000. The augmentation of the Municipal Guard had im posed fresh sacrifices on the city. The works executed in the barrack ofthe Celestines alone had cost 1,800,000 francs, and the whole expense required for the accomo dation of that guard would, it was expected, amount to 4,000,000 f. Two prisons were completed in 1842, land another, for which the municipal authorities had voted 4,000,000 f., was to be erected in the place of La Force ; it is to contain 1,200 cells. Particular at tention had been likewise devoted to the hospitals, and the number of beds was increased dnring the year by 850. The situation of the savings'-banks showed that habits of order and economy were every year taking deeper root among the Parisian popula tion. The new pass-books delivered in 1842 amounted to 35,688, and the investments to 39,189,612 f., which, as compared with the returns of 1841, exhi bited an increase of 3,583 pass-books, and 3,400,235 f. The reimbursements in 1842, however, surpassed those of 1841 by 4,586,000 f. The financial situation of Paris had been as favourable as that of last year. The proceeds of the octroi or tolls amounted, on the 20th of December, to 29,634,216 f., or about 500,000/. less than in 1841, which was attributed to the inter ruption, during several months, of the navigation of the Seine from the shallowness of the water. There had been a slight increase in the consumption of butchers'-meat. The value of Parisian exports, which amounted on the Ist of December, 1841, to 138,000,000 f., presented for the corresponding period of 1842, a diminution of upwards of 23,000,000 f. The silks figured in this diminution for a sum of 6,500,000 f., which the Prefect ascribes to the financial crisis in the United States and the elevation of the tariff. ON THE ORIGIN OF NEW YEAR'S GIFTS.-At this time of the year, why should presents be made upon the first day of January more than at other times ? The origin of this custom is attributed to the reign of Romulus and Tatius, King of the Sabines, who governed jointly in Rome, in the seventh year of the town. Here it is said that Tatius having been presented on the first day of January with some boughs, &c., out of the forest of the goddess Strania, in token of good luck, began this custom and called the present Strena. The Romans made this a holiday, and consecrated it to the honour of Janus, offering sacrifices, &c., to him, and the people went in throngs to mount Tarpeia, where Janus had an altar, clothed with new clothes, and chose to begin their respective employments or work on this day; they wished one another good luck, and were careful not to repeat anything ill natured or quarrelsome ; the common presents, among the meaner sort, were dates, figs, and honey, which were usually covered with leaf gold, and those who were under the protec tion of great men used to add a piece of money. In the reign of Augustus the , populace, gentry, and se nators, used to send him new year's gifts, and if he was not in town they carried them to the Capitol. From the Romans this custom went to the Greeks, and from the heathens to Christians, who very early came into the practice of making presents to the Magistrates. Some of the Fathers wrote very stre nuously against the principle, upon account of the immoralities committed under the cover and protec tion of it ; but since the Governments of the several nations in Europe are become Christians, the custom is still retained as a token of friendship, love, and re spect.— Correspondent of the Cambridge Advertiser. PROSPECTS OF THE GOVERNMENT.—The Ministry and their supporters will decidedly quarrel. There will be a vast number of dismembered parties, not only contending with one another, but with the pre sumed and presuming heads of all the Ministry itself. They are clearly destined to contention on the Corn laws, the income-tax, the tariff, and the sugar-duties. They have gone about things in so unbusiness-like a manner, that while they wished to raise the revenue by their accursed income-tax, they will pull it down by the effect of their tariff, and other proposed changes of duties both now and probably for some time to come. We do not expect that the European effect of the tariff will be much—the greatest hope we have is from America, but the distance and the freight will be so considerable, that we fear the country will not by any means profit by it to the extent that was supposed. — Tyne Mercury. THE CROYDON RAILWAY COMPANY.—A special general meeting of the proprietors of the Croydon Railway was held yesterday, at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, to consider the most desirable course to be adopted under the present embarrassed state of the Company's affairs. W. A. Wilkinson, Esq., the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, took the chair, and briefly stated the object of the meeting. He then called upon the Secretary of the Company to read the report of the Directors. The report, after setting forth the circumstances con nected with the payment of a toll of 4id. per passenger by the Croydon Railway to the Greenwich Railway, stated that the Directors, having exhausted all means to endeavour to prevail on the Green wich Railway Company to modify their toll, had come to the resolution that it would tend to the advantage of the Company to discontinue the carrying trade. The Directors concluded their report by expressing their belief that the Croydon Railway could not be profitably con tinued with a toll of 41d. per passenger. The Chair man, in moving the adoption of the report, remarked that the Company had for some time past been losing upwards of 121. per week, and there could be no doubt that it would be to the advantage of the Company to discontinue the traffic. The report was then carried. A resolution to the effect that the meeting approved of the proposition made by the Directors for relin quishing the carrying trade until some arrangement with respect to the toll were made with the Green wich Company was then carried, but the Directors were requested to delay putting the resolution into effect until the 24th of March next, and a Committee was appointed to negotiate with the Greenwich Com pany. A vote of thanks to the Chairman having been carried, the meeting separated. CHRISTIAN MISSIONS IN POLYNESIA.—The most ardent patrons of missions to Polynesia will not main tain that in no instance has zeal overstepped the bounds of prudence, or that pearls have not occa sionally been thrown before swine, who tried to turn again and rend their benefactors. But to justify the use of the means which have been employed, they point with satisfaction, and even some degree of tri umph, to the effects which are already produced. They can assert that, wherever Christianity has been received, however imperfectly, the habits of the na tives are improved, their fierce tempers have been mollified, and a respect for human life has succeeded to that thirst for blood which formerly occasioned the most deplorable catastrophes. In all the islands where the missionaries have succeeded in establishing a set tlement, security is now afforded to the mariner of every nation, who either seeks refuge from misfor tune, the intercourse of trade, or the gratification of a liberal curiosity. At other places, on the contrary, where the mild spirit of the Gospel has not yet been felt, scarcely a year passes in which vl edo not hear of murderous quarrels between the inhabitants and those by whom they are visited. At some of the Marquesas, till very lately, a trading vessel scarcely dared to an chor. In the Friendly Islands, according to the state ment of a recent author, while the chiefs were mani festing the strongest attachment to Captain Cook, they planned the assassination of himself and all his officers, and with this view invited them to an enter tainment by torch-light. Even on the shore of Otaheite, when Bligh's vessel arrived, the people cut the cables, in order that, being drifted on the beach, she might fall into their hands as plunder. Some years afterwards, the Society Islanders seized an English brig, murdered the officers, killed or disabled the crew, and took possession of her; but since the lessons of the Christian teachers have been given, every ship that has touched there, or at any other in the adjacent groups, has been as safe as in the Thames or the Weser.—Edinburgh Cabinet Library, No. XXXIIL Polynesia. How TO BRING UP CHILDREN.—" Mamma," said a little fellow, whose mother had forbid him drawing horses and ships on the mahogany sideboard with a sharp nail—" Mamma, this aint a nice house. At Sam Rackett's we can cut the sofa, and pull out the hair, and ride the shovel and tons over the carpet, but here we can't get any fun at all. The following days of the week are set apart for public worship in different nations :—Sunday, or the Lord's Day, by the Christians; Monday by the Gre cians ; Tuesday by the Persians ; Wednesday by the Assyrians ; Thursday by the Egyptians ; Friday by the Turks ; and Saturday by the Jews. We understand that the goods of Patterson, in Holywell-street, have been seized this week in execu tion for rent. Nothing has been heard of him since the warrants were issued on Saturday for his appre hension. ALEXANDRIA. DEC. 6.—The. Pacha is still at Mansourah, whither Colonel Barnett proceeded some days since from Cairo, without anything being known of the object of this interview with his Highness. All the other Consuls- General are at Alexandria. Nothing is yet known of the further movements of the Pacha, who is naturally seriously occupied with the fearful consequences of the nearly total extinction of the race of cattle in this country—a murrain frightful enough in itself, but still more horribly promulgated by the reckless habits of the natives and their Turkish masters. Healthy cattle may be seen tethered at their food within 20 paces of the abominably foetid unburied carcases of their late companions, which may have died a day or two previously, and having been thus dragged this little distance from the sheds in which the yet healthy cattle sleep and eat, are thus left to rot, after afford ing a aurfeit to the Arab dogs, it being no person's business to bury or destroy the bodies, which must, in every probability, propagate the infection. After seeing their race of cattle exterminated, their lands sown without ploughing, and every prospect of a famine in the land, they have at last thought it advis able to offer a premium for the importation of cattle fit for agricultural purposes. the following proclama• tion was issued to-day : " His Highness the Pacha, in order to facilitate the importation of cattle, authorises the undersigned to inform the public that the same may be imported duty free, until the 6th of December, 1843, empowering him also to grant a premium of two dollars per head on all oxen brought from Europe, fit for agricultural or other labour. (Signed) . " BOGHOS BEY." Under these circumstances it is not to be expected that the Government will be anxious to make sales at present low prices in face of the prospect of short crops next year ; and although last week they could not sell wheat at 41 piastres, they yesterday made an auction of wheat at 45 piastres, and beans at 32 piastres upset prices, which were of course retired without a bid, tantamount, of course, to a continued suspension of sales. One consequence of the mortality of the cattle is the natural deficiency of butchers' meat, connected with which is a story, just arrived from Cairo ; of course, like all Cairo stories, from the very best authority ! worthy Of a place in the " Thou sand and One Nights." On dit that a butcher has just been hanged there for fattening up, and selling as mutton, Arab dogs, of which a large stock, both alive and slaughtered, were found upon his premises. His Sardinian Majesty's steamer of war Tripoli, arrived yesterday from Malta, bearer of a letter from the Sardinian Minister to his Excellency Boghos Bey, moderately and quietly demanding satisfaction for the insult offered in Cairo to the Sardinian Con sulate there, and the violence perpetrated on the Sar dinian Janissary. This most important dispatch must await his Highness's reply from Mansourah, and there is little doubt that this communication will pro , cure a proper inquiry into the real merits of the case ; for, whatever may be the Pacha's love of justice, it is equally true that, nine times out of ten, the whole truth does not reach his ears, unless when an event like this brings it forcibly to his attention. The Tripoli was bearer of a dispatch from Malta, which occasioned the immediate departure for Syria of the Medea steamer. It is also worthy of notice that the Pacha's steamer Hajji Baba, or, as now called, the Reschid (or Rosetta), brought a dispatch, in conse quence of which the French brig of war Alcibiade left on the 3d inst. for Syria, where evidently some thing of political importance is going on. The Generoso brought news from Scio of the re cent discovery there by an English diving apparatus of two immense pieces of brass ordnance, twenty-five feet in length, and with two feet bore, but the metal not sufficiently strong to have fired a solid shot of that dimension. The Pacha has now, perhaps, the same guns in existence—about thirteen feet in length, and fifteen and a half inches in the bore, carrying for five thousand yards a solid shot of nearly five hundred pounds weight. They are to be mounted on battery on the coast, and should they be found serviceable, will prove a formidable weapon of defence. LORD ELLENBOROUGH'S POLICY The following letter from Bombay, though of an old date, contains some interesting particulars respecting affairs, in India and Affghanistan : " In my last I mentioned the regret I felt at being obliged to quit the force at Caubul and return to Bombay on sick certificate. What I then thought a misfortune has in the end proved in all probability my preservation, or I might have been numbered with those who subsequently met their deaths by treachery 'on their retreat from Caubul—a fearful tragedy; but it is passed, and as far as British valour could effect, a ll h as b een repaired. But no thanks to Ellenborough fo r it. It will, however be a long i t n i time, the e i f ever, of r,be t f he before our Nativer discomfitureowers; and to aggravate will be got over the matter, Lord Ellenberough's proclamation has tended to lower us still more in their opinion ; for he tells them we had no business ever to have entered the country, or interfered with them—a pitiful cut at Whig policy, but pregnant with ultimate injury to the service, as our whole system here rests entirely on opinion. Teach the natives only that unity is strength, and our power would soon crumble to pieces. He also lets them into the secret that we are not powerful enough to retain our conquests in the country, because it is 500 miles from our resources— a pretty tale to tell the Native Powers. He orders the troops to withdraw a second time, before the cap tives are released, and like a bully tells the Affghans they may now choose their own Sovereign, which they will do on our retreat without asking his leave or consent to their choice, having been told by him, we cannot send a force to coerce you, because it is 500 miles off. What a pretty Governor General ! The best of the joke is, he takes all the merit of our late successes to himself, whereas, if Pollock and Co. had withdrawn, when ordered, we should never have seen Caubul or Ghuznee again ; and as for the poor captives, both Europeans" and natives, they might, for all he cared, have been left in captivity. Not a company, troop, or any supplies have entered the country but what was, previously to his arrival, ordered by Lord Auckland. So much for the Tory boaster. Pollock, since the second order to withdraw, I has taken and knocked about their ears the two strongholds of Istalif and Chareekar, and recovered in them, not only the guns and other plundered pro perty, muskets, drums, colours, &c., but taken pri soners some families belonging to chiefs of the highest rank. These, I hear, he intends to hold in bondage till Akbar Khan is delivered up. The battle of Teezan, also, caused our captives to be restored. " A native brought me, a few days ago, a copy of the Governor-General's pi oclamation, and asked me the meaning of the words Conservative policy, as he could not understand them. I told him it was to preserve things as they were. Then,' says he, why don't you keep Affghanistan ; or, if you quit the country, why don't you make them pay a yearly tribute as an acknowledgment of subjection, as Runjeet Singh did the Cashmirians? I suppose now, (he added,) as Lord Ellenborough in this pro clamation says you ought not to have gone there, or interfered with them, that he will of course relea e Doit Mahomed, and give him twenty lacs of vagodas as an indemnification for his =just captivity and knocking his forts to pieces.' I advised him to see his Lordship on the subject. It is nevertheless a pretty general opinion amongst the natives, that his Lordship ought so to do to be consistent, and cer tainly, as he says we had no business to enter the country or interfere in their concerns, I cannot see on what principle of equity or justice he can any longer detain in captivity Dost Mahomed. " On the 14th his Lordship issued another procla mation on the strength of the peace with China. Here again is nothing but vain boasting, and another sly cut at the Whigs. He says in it-- Two months after the arrival of reinforcements from England and India, and the troops being ordered (of course by himself) to the true point of attack, has compelled the Emperor to submit to all her Majesty's just demands.' "In the first place before his arrival here the attack was not only directed, but had actually long com menced at this true point ; and secondly, since his ar rival not a man from India has joined General Gough but what was previously ordered by Lord Auckland, and not one of the regiments from England had, when the peace was signed, joined Gough's force, but the Em peror has been compelled to submit to all otir just demands. Bravo, Conservative Ellenborough! Yet this is the same individual who in Parliament was most loud in condemning the Whig policy o f the war, who declared over and over again it was a most unjust and unholy war, an opium war, &c., and prognosticated all sorts of reverses ; but now our just office opens a man s eyes. just dmnanarecoTplidwith! How wonder fully Depe n d upon it, if Chinathe Tor war, ieshad office, th milesere Nvo from our uld have been becauseno benin it w as soo re sources. So the Chinese might have continued to in sult us with impunity, instead of, as now, paying the piper and submitting to our just demands. It is currently reported that the gates taken from the tomb or rather temple of Sacunauth, at Ghuznee, are intended to adorn the new House of Lords as a memorial of the prowess of the Conservative Lord Ellenborough in Affghanistan. Depend upon it, ere long, you will hear of some strange freaks of this im• becile Governor, if not speedily recalled. Both civil and military would heartily rejoice to see him safe over the surf. " Bombay, Oct. 28, 1842." The Marquis of Douglas arrived at the Duke of Hamilton's, in Portman-square, On Sunday, from Mannheim, in the Grand Duey of Baden. We hear that his Lordship's marriage to her Serene Highness the Princess Mary Amelia Elizabeth Caroline of Baden, the fair and accomplished neice of the reigning Grand Duke, will be solemnised in Germany, where the illustrious fiancee, who is one of the most distin guished beauties of the Continent, resides with her mother, the Grand Duchess Dowager Stephanie. :Per Quarter.: Carlisle Hexham Morpeth Penrith Sheffield Winchester Per Bushel. Carmarthen Cowbridge Swansea Per 8011. Barnardcastle Durham Richmond Stockton Per S First Oati a. to E. 33 38 '26 30 27 SO s.d. s.d. 00 40 3 6 46 6 0 391 S. to S. 23 28 15 20 -. /5 20 20 s. e. s. d. 00 14 2 SO , 2 8 4 111 THE SUN', LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENIN DECEMBEit 28, 1842, THE LATE FIRE AT BRENT FORD MONEY MARKET and CITY NEWS. CORONER'S INQUEST. FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAY. Yesterday, at twelve o'clock, a jury composed of CITY, TUESDAY EVENING. fourteen respectable inhabitants of the town of Old TIMES.—The business transacted to-day in the Brentford were empanelled in the perlourof the Barge Foreign Exchanges was but to a moderate extent. Aground public-house, before Mr. T. Wakley, M.P., The rates, generally speaking, may be considered as Coroner for the Western Division of Middlesex, to rather higher than last post, with the exception of investigate the circumstances attending the death of Hamburgh, which is quoted a trifle lower. Mrs. Elizabeth Swan, aged 38 years, who died from ! The premium on gold at Paris is 13 per mille, the injuries she received in a fire which occurred at which, at the English Mint price of 31. 17s. 10d, the residence of her husband on the afternoon of Sa- per ounce for standard gold, gives an exchange of turday last. 25 48, and the exchange at Paris on London at The jury having been sworn, and Mr. Burness ap- short being 25 65 it follows that gold is 0.68 per pointed foreman, proceeded to view the body of the cent. dearer in London than in Paris. deceased, which was lying at her residence; on their The course of exchange at New York on London return to the inquest-r oom th e f o ll ow i ng w it nesses i s 10 61 per cent., and the par of exchange between were examined : England and America being 109 23-40ths per cent., Margaret Marshall deposed that her husband was it follows that the exchange is 3.07 per cent. against a bricklayer, employed at the distillery of Sir England. But the quoted exchange at New York F. Booth, Bart., in Old Brentford, She knew being for bills at 60 days' sight, the interest must be the deceased, who was the wife of Henry Swan, deducted from the above difference. one of the foremen at the same distillery. The de- CHRONICLE.-- 2 The silence of the President of ceased lived in a house adjoining the distillery, and the United States on the subject of repudiation, has witness and her husband resided in the same house. given great uneasiness in commercial circles. The On the afternoon of Saturday last, the 24th instant, holders of American State Stocks looked with confi witness was engaged in the lower part of the house, denee to the contents of the Message for some distinct when about five o'clock she heard the deceased call and specific manifestation against the dishonest con her from the upper part in a hurried manner. She duct of the repudiating States, and for some stirring immediately ran up stairs, and on reaching the land- appeal to the citizens, in order to induce them to re ing of the first floor she saw a basin on fire, on the move the stain thus thrown upon the credit of the floor at the foot of a cupboard which was on the whole Union. They have looked, however, in vain, landing. The deceased was endeavouring to put out and are surprised ; nay, we fear, much disheartened the flames, and witness tried to do the same with her to find, instead of any such satisfactory matter, or clothes, but her gown caught fire, and the deceased even the most distant allusion to it, a total silence assisted her in tearing it off and extinguishing it, in preserved in regard to it, and an ill-considered charge, which they were successful. Witness then ran down or at least insinuation, of combination against English stairs for water, leaving the deceased still striving to capitalists, introduced for refusing to treat with Mr. subdue the flames, and on her return up stairs met Robinson, ending with a declaration that the resources the deceased running down enveloped in flames. Wit- of the United States are ample, and that their own ness then saw that the cupboard and her own (wit- means are quite sufficient to supply all their monetary ness's) room were on fire, and she immediately raised wants and engagements. an alarm. When she next saw the deceased she was The following are the official returns of the exports alive, but frightfully burnt all over, and died about of th e p rec i ous me t a l s f rom t h e port of London, for ten o'clock the same night. The deceased went up the week ending Thursday last. stairs for the purpose of getting a woman some spirits. Silver Coin to Calcutta.... 73,000 oz. Some of the Jury said they were present at the Ditto Bars, to ditto ... fire, and they thought at the time same spirits must Hamburgh. .. 59,000 have ignited, or the flames would not have been so 17 Bombay and the Cape fierce. of &rod Hope. .. 50,000 Lucy Brooker deposed that she was in the service Gold Coin to Ceylon... of Mrs. Malcolm, a market gardener in Drum-lane. „ „ New Yorl• ••• 188 Saw deceased in flames. Did not k now h ow th e d e - „ „ B om b ay 560 ceased's clothes caught fire, but supposed it was in POST.—Looking at the eager perseverance with trying to put out the fire. which the American Governments have always pushed The CORONER said, after the evidence that had been the claims of their citizens against foreign States, as adduced there could he no doubt that some strong also at the unprecedented condition of the public trea spirit had accidentally ignited, and occasioned the un- sury at the present moment, and as the claims on fortunate disaster. Mexico have been for some years lingering in a state The Jury concurring in opinion with the Coroner, of abeyance, it appears not improbable that the lead immediately returned a verdict of " Accidental death ing bases upon which the future good understanding from burning." of the two Governments is to be established will prove to be the prompt discharge of the first completely de termined liability, and the assurance of a speedy at tention to the partially considered claims comprised in the minor sum of 193,4621. sterling. The American Government will be quickened in their efforts to get these portions of their demand cleared off by the knowledge that tile bondholders in England are beginning, after a long lapse of years, to have remittances from Mexico on account of the divi dends, and by the operations of the parent State against Texas. The claims preferred by American citizens at a period too late for the investigation of the Com missioners seem to be eminently calculated to keep alive a spirit of hostility between the respective Go vernments. It is a melancholy thing for Mexico that she should have for her near neighbour a nation like the Americans. She is in a situation to be eternally harassed by them, for, while she suffers from territo rial aggression on the one 'hand, she is becoming an object of pecuniary cupidity on the other—cupidity, too, that derives no inconsiderable stimulus from the daily increasing necessities of a failing treasury. It is not to be forgotten that although Mr. Tyler professes to be actuated by good feelings towards Mexico, he does so in the most guarded terms. "It is so obviously for the interest of both countries, as neighbours and friends, that all just causes of mutual dissatisfaction should be removed, that it is to be hoped neither will omit or delay the employment of any practicable and honourable means to accomplish that end." The passage has a suspicious appearance. The American President has, it may be feared, an eye almost exclusively to the settlement of the claims of his countrymen, and when it is read in connexion with one that precedes it, the fact can hardly be questioned, for, after explaining what progress has been made in relation to those claims, he gives a sufficiently intelli gible idea of the step that is about to be taken for procuring an adjustment of them :-- " The Minister of the United States at Mexico has been duly authorised to make demand for the pay ment of the awards, according to the terms of the Convention, and the provisions of the Act of Congress of the 12th June, 1840. Ile has also been instructed to communicate to that Government (the Mexican) the expectations of the Government of the United States 'in relation to those claims which were not dis posed of according to the provisions of the Conven tion, and all others of citizens of the United States against the Mexican Government. He has also been furnished with other instructions, to be followed by him in case the Government of Mexico should not find itself in a condition to make present payment of the amount of the awards in specie, or its equivalent." Mr. Tyler mentions having received from the Mi nister of the United States information which is esteemed favourable " both to a just satisfaction of the awards, and a reasonable provision for other claims." This has probably served to pacify the American Go - ver nment in some degree, but there can be no dis guising the truth, that there is an earliest determina tion on the part of that Government to get possession of the money. The total of the sum exacted is 6,291,537 dollars 61 cents, or, at an exchange of 4s. 2d. the dollar, 1,310,7371. sterling. SUN.—The English Stocks received sonic support from the improved tone of feeling exhibited at Paris in reference to the Barcelona affair, but very little speculation is going on. Consols closed at 93i to 93i ; Exchequer Bills at 555. premium; and the Three-and-a-Half per Cent. Annuities (the Old) at 101*. There was an apparent disposition to do business in most of the Foreign Securities, and the quotations generally improved. Spanish Five per Cents. left off at 19, and the 'Three per Cents. at 25. Portuguese Converted were 33:1, and the Three per Cents. 24k. Mexican Bonds were rather better, being 31i to 31k; Chilian were 74-; Buenos Ayres, 25 ; Brazilian, 71+; Peruvian, 18k; Russian Stock was firm at 113.1 to 1131; and Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cents. brought 52i to Altogether the Foreign Market was most buoyant and animated. Since this morning the only bargains in the Share Market 'have been in South Eastern and Dover at 27* disciaunt, and in Australasia Bank at 13k prem. It is satisfactory to notice that the Exchanges were again more in our favour. These were the rates given this afternoon:—Paris, 25f. 92kc. to 971 c.; Hamburgh, 13 11 ftol2 ; Antwerp, 12 5i to 12 6 ; Frankfort, 152+ to ; Amsterdam, 12 6+ ; and Trieste, 10 2. COURSE OF EXCHANGE—(YESTERDAY.) Amsterdam CF. 12 Ilk:Gibraltar ...... 46 Ditto, at sight Rotterdam .........2 U. 12 9 Genoa •• 26 25 Antwerp Hamburgh M.B. 13 15 Venice 47 Alton& Paris, 3 days' sight ... 25 60 Palermo, per irz 120 k Ditto, 3 months.. ....... 26 5 Lisbon 52 . 26 10 °ports Marseilles ... Bourdeaux 26 10 R io J a neiro 25 Frankfort en Maine ...152k Bahia Petersbu rg h, 3 U s . ... 3f4 Buenos Ayr e s Berlin.. Vienna, effee. fl. 3 M lO 2 Philadelphia 4Q T si ri adri est d e, di . tt . o . ...................... 1 46 0 3 PRICES F ee jge OF G Gold, PER 7 ci 9 z . Cadiz ......... ....... ..... 36 Portugal Geld Cein...3 17 5 0 0 0 Bilbao ................ 3: 6 NNeeww Dollars Doloons Barcelona 4 9i Seville THE INCOME-TAX. LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY OF STAMPS AND TAXES TO THE SUR VEYORS. Stamps and Taxes, London, Dec. 8, 1842. Sig,—The Board having reason to apprehend that some of the Surveyors have misunderstood the law with reference to assessments under schedules A and Bin the Property-tax Act, lam directed to inform you, that the tax is payable on the annual value only of lands and tenements, and not on the amount to which such lands and tenements have been assessed to the poor, and that such annual value is the rent by the year at which the same are let at rack-rent, if the amount of such rent shall have been fixed within the period of seven years from the sth of April last; and if not so let at rack-rent, then at the rack-rent at which the same are worth to be let by the year ; and that it is only in those cases where the annual value cannot be otherwise ascertained (such as upon lands and tenements in the occupation of the owners, or let on beneficial leases), that the poor-rate is to be re sorted to, and then only for the purpose of making the assessment on such last. mentioned properties, in a sum bearing a due proportion (as near as the same can be computed) to the assessment on properties let at a bona fide rack-rent; as, for example : A house or farm is let at rack-rent for 1001. a-year, and is assessed to the poor on three-fourths of the rent, or 751. per annum. Assessment to the property tax must be on WO/. a-year. Another farm in the same parish is let on a beneficial lease, or is in hand, and X. s. d. is assessed to the poor at, a-year.... 500 0 0 Add one-third of the said assessment... 166 13 0 Assessment to the property tax must be on a-year . • • . .. 666 13 0 As the public will have great cause of complaint if an assessment has been made upon a different prin ciple than herein set forth, I am to desire that you will take especial care that in all such cases the same may be rectified accordingly. I take this opportunity of informing you that the Board have received directions from the Lords of the Treasury that in all cases where the overseers of the poor have been called upon by the surveyors for a copy of the last rate made for the relief of the poor, to assist the surveyors in checking the assessments, and have actually furnished the same, all reasonable ex penses for preparing such copy shall be defrayed by this department; and I am to desire, that if any such copy shall have been furnished to you for the purpose in question, you will forward the overseer's account for making such copy to this office, with a view to its being discharged. I am, Sir, yourobedient servant, CHARLES PRESSLY. IRELAND. AWFUL CATASTROPHE-LOSS OF UPWARDS OF THIRTY LIVES. Duni" Disc. 26.--The particulars of the follow ing melancholy catastrophe are communicated by Correspondents of the Evening Mail. An event some what similar, but by no means so lamentable in its results, occurred in the Roman Catholic Chapel of Francis-street, in this city, last Christmas two years : " Galway, Dec. 25.—A melancholy accident oc curre3. in this town this morning. At early mass, in the parish church, there was an immense concourse of people ; the gallery, as is usual on Christmas morn ings, was crowded to excess. One of the rails of the staircase by the pressure of the multitude was broken, and some persons in the vicinity having heard the crackling noise, gave the alarm, and cried out that the gallery was giving way. An indescribable but tre mendous rush was made by the dense mass to escape. The catastrophe was awful; 30 persons, up to the time I am going to post, have been made the victims of the rashness of the assemblage. The gallery did not give way." (FROM ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT.) " I think it but right to tell you that a most tragical occurrence took place here, at six o'clock this morn ing, at the parish chapel, similar to what occurred in Dublin two years ago. Previous to the celebration of mass the chapel was crowded to suffocation, and some person gave the alarm that the gallery was giving way. The consequence was that a tremendous rush was made towards the stairs—numbers were thrown down the stairs and trampled to death by others getting into the street. At this moment (two o'clock) thirty-five per sons are dead, and it is supposed from ten to fifteen more are also numbered among the dead. There are a great many besides maimed ; they are all of the lower class, such as poor tradesmen, labourers, and servants. There was no danger at all of the gallery giving way ; it is very strongly built, and would bear four times the weight that was on it at the time. There must have been between 4,000 and 5,000 people in it at the time. I never witnessed a more heart rending scene. I saw myself twenty-five dead bodies." (FROM ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT.) " I have just seen Dr. Gray, who informed me that he has ascertained twenty-eight individuals to be dead, but he thinks there are a great many more, carried to different parts of the town by their relatives, that have not yet come under his observation. The town is in a frightfully agitated state. The sufferers are all of the working classes. I went through the chapel an hour ago, and atind the gallery to be very strong, so that, if the foolish people had but thought for an instant, they might have been under no apprehension whatever of its giving way, and the lives of the poor creatures might have been spared. Two of our servants were in the chapel at the time, but escaped— they do not know how. This has been a scene very like that which took place at Kirkcaldy, and which e i never can forget." COMMAND OF THE LIMERICK DISTRICT.—The re port of the command of the Limerick district having been offered for the acceptance of Major-General Lord Downes is quite correct, but it is not certain whether the Noble and Gallant Officer will take upon himself the harassing duties inseparable from such an ap pointment. MURDER, OR HOMICIDE, AT RUTHERGLEN.—From the number of depredations which have of late been committed on the potatoe-pitsof the farmers in various quarters. around the city, it has been the practice to set a watch upon them during the night. On Thurs day night, a man named John M‘Bride, farm servant with Mr. Mason, at Bulloch's Mill, in the neighbour hood of Rutherglen, was sent out with a gun to watch the pits on the farm. About two o'clock on Friday morning M‘Bride discovered three men busily em ployed in helping themselves from one of the pits, on which he gave the alarm, and the parties instantly took to their heels. The man, M'Bride, then fired after them, but, from the darkness of the morning, they managed to get out of sight. On examining the place where the men had been, it was found that three sacks which the thieves had left contained up wards of twelve pecks. About daylight, sonic children going for milk discovered the dead body of a man lying in a field, about 220 yards distant from the pit at which the thieves had been scared; and the alarm being given, a gentleman, who was passing at the time, generously paid the hire of a cart, and had the body conveyed to Rutherglen Court Hall. The ground around where the body was lying was found saturated with blood, from several wounds in the man's arm, inflicted by the small shot, which had severely grazed ; the shot had also entered other parts of th body. The deceased is an old veteran, wanti ng th e left arm, blind of the left eye, and of wretched appearance. He has been recognised as a person named John 'Allan, residing about Havannah-street. On the information reaching Rutherglen, M`Bride was apprehended and lodged ingaol there, from whence he has been brought to Glasgow prison. We understand that the Sheriff directed an examination of the body to be made by rDrs. Easton and M‘Grioxn. on Saturday.—Glasgow Argus. Some wag in Bangor (Me.) advertises, at great length, that he is preparing an immense balloon, to carry the people of that city out of harm's way when Miller's conflagration happens in April. He says he has sent to Europe for an immense amount of silk, and the car is to be 450 feet long and 90 wide. Seats in the balloon 200 dollars each. The books are to be opened on the Ist of April, and a great body of constables will be on hand to prevent a rush.—New York Tribune. Montely, the murderer of the messenger of the Or leans Bank, is now quite recovered' from the effects of his late attempt at starvation. He takes his meals as usual. Last Saturday, as his breakfast, consisting of eggs and a cutlet, was placed before him, he ex claimed, " What, eat meat on a Saturday ! Not so bad as thrit! Give me the eggs." Montely's scru ples call to mind the conduct of the Calabrian robbers, who kill a man with one hand and make the sign of the cross with the other. The trial will, it is sup posed, come on next month.—Galignani. A man in Missouri planted some beans late one afternoon, and next morning they were up—thanks to his hens. HOUGOUMON T. (From the Newcastle Journal;) The following interesting communication has been handed to us by the writer, whose name is subscribed, , and relating as it does to an event of suckimportance as the memorable battle on the plains of Waterloo, it will be read with much interest : " Along with the detachment of British and foreign troops which 'Wellington posted at Hougiininont for its defence, was a brigade of English, c ons i s 'lig a the - Light and 7th companies of the Coldstream ards. No sooner were the Guardsmen fairly within chateau garden than the temptingly ripe cher ries drew their attention, and the soldiers were to he seen plucking them off the wall trees by handsful, quite regardless of the shot and shells which were incessently pouring in amongst them You scoundrels,' roared out Major James M‘Don non, the officer in command of the brigade, ' if I survive this day, I will punish you all.' But, alas I before the close of the murderous struggle, how few of the cherry stealers were left for punishment in this world ! Out of 134 as smart young soldiers as ever drew a trigger (the number of the two companies), only 13 could muster when the roll was called ; and these survivors were led out of action by Corporal Smith, every other officer and non-commissioned officer being either killed or wounded. The Empe ror's commands were Carry the post,' while our Duke's were ' Keep it ;' and a most terrible post it was to keep. Once the French broke into the court-yard, and such a scene of bayonet work I (the narrator of this article) never be fore or since beheld. It was fairly a trial of strength—the French grenadiers were not to be trifled with, and we looked like so many butchers red with gore, or rather like so many demons rioting against fire, for the shells had set two haystacks in a blaze, and many a poor fellow, bleeding and wounded, being unable to get out of the way, was burnt to death. Shut the court-yard gates,' roared out our Serjeant Major Frazer, and keep them out,' and a rush was instantly made to the gates, the French without and the Guards within. Life and death was in the struggle, for Ney was at hand with a force that threatened destruction to the post ; but English physical strength overcame the French ardour, and the gates were closed by the power ful shoulders of Major M'Donnell, and the giant of a sergeant-major, with as many of ours as could get to them. The French, thus enclosed in the court yard, surrendered by throwing down their firelocks, and were ordered to fall back ; but they forgot the duties of prisoners. Their countrymen again charged Hougoumont with horse and foot, and partly over powered the Nassau troops, and caused them to reel a bit; and then it was that the few Frenchmen we had taken again seized their arms, and attacked us in the rear. Fortunately the post was not carried, and now a vengeance stern and dreadful awaited the prisoners. They had grossly violated the articles of war by taking up their arms after surrendering as prisoners, and the consequence was that every one of them was put to death, some by the bayonet, and some were thrown into the blazing haystacks by our in furiated men. " Though now 27 years have rolled away since tha t dreadful scene took place, yet it is fresh in my mind' eye, and my ears yet tingle with the yells of these misguided Frenchmen as they were tumbled into the fiery furnace. Charge after charge, and cannonade after cannonade, were repeated on this devoted post, yet still it was not carried. During one of the charges made by the French cavalry, I could not but admire the coolness of as Highlander belonging to the 92d Re giment. Donald by some means got separated from his regiment, and could not get to it before the Cuirassiers came up : he therefore came quietly up to our post, coolly saying, ' Lads, I'll just fa in wi' ye a bit—our Regiment is receiving cavalry, I see.' As one of the 13,Guardsmen who was able to muster, being unhurt, I distinctly say that I have been in many a hard fought action, and seen many an arduous struggle, but the struggle to keep the post at Hougoumont was by far the most dreadful I ever witnessed. We might have given it up, for there was scarcely a man, either foreign or English, that was not hurt ; but then our iron Duke's orders were ' keep the post,' and keep it we did, proving, to the strictest letter, that we knew and could do our duty. " RICHARD MACLAURENCE, Pensioner. " Formerly Light Company Coldstreani Guards. " Backworth Colliery, near North Shields." CHARTIST MEETING. THE MILITARY CALLED OITT.-011 the 18th inst., twelve of the inhabitant householders of the township of Oldham requested the constables to call " a public meeting of the inhabitants at an early day, for the purpose of electing a delegate or delegates, to a con ference calle i by the Council of the Complete Suffrage Union, to be held in Birmingham, on the 27th inst., to prepare a Bill to be submitted to the Legislature, embodying the principles and necessary details of a full, free, and fair representation of the people in the Commons House of Parliament," &c. The constables declining to call any such meeting, 18 Chartist inhabi ' tant householders issued public notices, on Saturday week, convening a public open-air meeting, to be held for the above purpose, on the vacant land behind the Albion Inn, on Saturday evening last, at half-past four o'clock. Shortly after the appearance of this placard, the Magistrates and head constables became aware of the nature of the meeting; and the latter intimated their belief that it would be illegal, inasmuch as it was to be held after sunset. The Magistrates having heard a report of an intention to hold the Chartist assembly by torch-light, the following notice was issued on Friday evening :—" Notice.—We, the undersigned Magistrates, acting for Oldham, having called the attention of the constables to a placard calling a public meeting to be held in the open space behind the Albion Inn, on Saturday, the 17th instant, at half-past four o'clock, and the con stables thinking such meeting is both unseasonable as to time and place, and likely to endanger the public peace of the town, in which opinion we unanimously concur, do hereby give notice that such meeting will not be permitted to be held ; and we further caution the inhabitants from attending on the ground, or join ing any strangers or others who may attempt to form any such meeting. Thomas S. Mills, E. Hibbert, A:Clegg., J. Mellor, John F. Lees." Up to within a short time of the period fixed for holding the meeting, the Chartists had not abandoned their intention, and a great number of special constables assembled at the Town Hail, on the call of the Magistrates, about three o'clock on Saturday afternoon; and, shortly afterwards, a company of the 15th Regiment of Foot, amounting to 52 men, under the command of Captain Brunkett, with about 30 of the First Dragoon Guards, entered the town from Manchester, and drew up in order near the Town Hall. About an hour before the time fixed for the meeting, however, public announcements were circulated, to the effect that as the authorities prohi bited an out-door gathering, the intended meeting would be held in the Chartists' Room, Greaves-street, at six o'clock the same evening. The meeting took place at the time stated, when persons were elected delegates to attend the Birmingham Conference. The proceedings passed off in an orderly manner. The cavalry left the town on Tuesday morning. All is quiet, and there has been no riot whatever. VOLCANIC ORIGIN OF THE SOUTH SEA ISLANDS.— Nearly all the regions of the Pacific bear the most unequivocal marks of having been the scene of vol canic action on a vast scale, and the prevailing features of the large masses of land confirm the inference which may still be drawn from the imperfect tradi tions of the people. Some of the isles present vol canoes in a state of activity ; others exhibit only the form and altitude which denote a similar origin in remote ages ; while a third class display undoubted tokens of having been violently changed by the force of subterranean fire, if not by the more sudden shock of an earthquake. Tanna and Pico belong to the first class ; Otaheite, Huaheine, and Bolabola, are distinct specimens of the second; and Easter Island may be adduced as an example of the third. In this last all the rocks are black, burnt, and honeycombed ; some have the appearance of slag; nay, even the soil, which is but thinly spread over the calcined masses, bears a close resemblance to dark yellow ochre. Mr. Williams divides the islands of Plutonic origin into two orders, the Mountainous and the Hilly. In the former, the height of the land varies from 2,000 to 15,000 feet above the level of the sea, the towering summits gradually rising from their base till they are lost in the clouds. The sides of these magnificent elevations are clothed with bright verdure of various shades, blending together in a very striking manner the elements of grandeur, wildness, sublimity, and beauty. All the islands of this class exhibit indubi table marks of volcanic eruption. In many of them the rocks are composed of a fine-grained basalt; in others pumice is found, together with stones of varied appearance, which have evidently undergone the action of fire. It is clear, moreover, that all these islands have at one time been under water; for at the top of the highest peaks, coral, shells, and other ma rine sub stances, are seen in great abundance. The savage and romantic appearance of the rocks, their broken, abrupt, and irregular forms, also indicate that at some remote era they have been subjected to disrup tion by the power of some mighty agent affecting their interior.—Edinburgh Cabinet Library, No. XXXIII. Polynesia. A. day mail has now commenced running between London and Cambridge. Letters for London, by this mail, must be posted before 15 minutes past 11, a.m., at which time the letter-box closes. The mail arrives from London at 40 minutes past 3 p.m., and the letters and papers are delivered at the office win dow, and by the letter-carriers, as . soon as sorted. The general delivery has commenced at present, at 15 minutes past four in the afternoon.—Cambridge Ad vertiser. We are enabled to state that the King of Prussia ha consented to become the arbitrator between France and. England upon the difficult and long.-contested -subject of the Portendic claims.—vening paper.