The Sun. — London, England, 1833-12-31 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS, Certain classes of the Dissenters—intelligent, zealous, and persevering men in their generation —have shown a great deal of all these qualities at their political meetings, which have recently become more frequent and more prominent than at any former period. It will not, of course, be considered by that body the slightest reflection upon their principles or objects, if we say that the downfall of the Church of England, as a national establishment, is directly aimed at by them, and that, under whatever names they may disguise their meaning, their real and main grievance is the existence of the Church. At a meeting of Dissenters of the Independent and Baptist denominations which took place at Brad ford a few days ago, the Rev. Thomas Taylor is reported to have said, that " Church esta blishments are anti-scriptural, and that there is not in the New Testament any countenance given to an alliance between the Church and State ; nor had the Church, in its primitive, purest, and most flourishing estate, ever been connected with the existing Governments ; but, on the contrary, it was persecuted by them." Now, to us who never have upheld, but have, on the other hand, strenuously reprobated what ever could be fairly described as the abuses of our Church establishment, such indications of feeling as the above on the part or Protestant Dissenters seem rather extravagant. It would be odd indeed if the New Testament had given what is absurdly called " countenance to an alliance between " Church and State," at a time when the " State" was a military , c abso lute Pagan Government," and the doctrines of Christianity were preached to a poor, scanty, humble, forlorn, and fugitive sect. There was and could be nothing like an Established Church, in the modern sense of the term, recommended or enjoined by the author or early teachers of Christianity, because not only the Roman empire, but every other state existing in those days, had already its pagan church and priest hood, with the single exception of Judea. The Christian doctrine is distinguished" above every antecedent one, by its aiming by more powerful motives at a more effectual action upon the mo rals of human society. To uphold that religion and its ministers, therefore, must be considered at least a very useful object by every lawgiver who can understand the nature of the influence which it is fitted to exercise over living men. When, however, some hot-headed zealots pre tend to claim a divine origin for that endowed and legalized body called the church, considered with reference to its property, its privileges, and its constituted rights, they assume a principle by virtue of which every other sect professing 4 Christianity is equally entitled to dispute fur supremacy, with that called the Church of England. Each sect of necessity believes its own to be the " genuine" faith—to be that which most strictly represents the doctrine delivered by our Saviour. It will be seen, therefore, with how much alacrity those, whose object is to pull down the Church, seize upon that false assumption of its more inconsiderate members-, and treat it as if sober and reflecting churchmen had no foundation whereon to rest the defence of an establishment, but one which common sense and knowledge of Christian his- tory repudiates. While, therefore, we reject the imputation of these Dissenters, who would accuse the advocates of an Established Church of attempting to defend it on grounds which are utterly untenable, we at the same time willingly acknowledge that if the temporal church be so . overrun with corruptions as to be rendered by them incapable of fulfilling the political and moral ends for which it was made, the corrup tions mnst be cleared away, or the Church itself must (and inevitably will) be utterly subverted and annihilated. From our view of the ques tion, it will at once be perceived how widely we dissent from the Rev. Mr. Taylor, when he says that an Established Church is posi tively " injurious to religion." There is, indeed, one church which, wherever it has been esta blished, has proved itself directly injurious, both to religious feeling and to civil liberty, because of the systematic, unremitting, and unblushing efforts of its ministers to obtain by the most re volting means an absolute power over all ranks of men in their temporal and social relations. The Romish Church (though all modes of faith must be tolerated) cannot be established any where without danger to those objects which other churches are calculated to promote, viz.— the influence of law, good government, and morals. If the majority of a nation were Quakers, Wesleyans, Baptists, Independents, or any other form or denomination of Pro testants, we should be comparatively satisfied to see their church established, because their tenets or their discipline do not arrogate a power over the actions of mankind as members of political society. It is not so with that com munion where auricular confession, excommuni cation, and the prohibited exercise of private judgment, place such tremendous, though per haps d - ...savowed authority, in the hands of the active priesthood. For reasons purely political we should be averse 'to see Popery established in any portion of these realms. From the discus sion of any other characteristics of that church, we respectfully and cautiously abstain. There is in this day's Times a letter, signed " A ChurcliMan," which comes from a formercor resPondent of ours, and which treats the ques tion both of church establishments and church revenues with an ability which will powerfully recommend itself to our readers. Let it not, however, from any part which we have felt it our duty to take on behalf of the thing called an ;, Established Church," be inferred, that we stand up as champions for any of its abuses. We hope and trust, that the whole course of our observations, in former numbers, will have relieved us from such a surmise.' Pluralities, after the commutation of tithes, are the first great evil in the practice of the Church to be abolished. It is perfectly monstrous that a man should receive the emoluments of two or more livings, when he can earn the sal a ry of b u t o n e; as it is that th e abomination of sinecures should exist, whereby the subsistence due to the cure of many souls is sacrificed to the care of one man's worldly inte rests. But there ate likewise other obligations resting on the supreme power of this country, on the effectual discharge of which must de pend the success and stability of the Church of England. We subjoin a few- Clergymen must be more profoundly taught, and be sub jected to a more rigorous examination as to fitness and capacity before they are ordained. Great and ,prodigally endowed bishoprics must be cut down, and a moderate (we do not say an . average , income establish ed. In our opinion, except for three or four dioceses, 4,000/..per annum would .suf fice. No bishop should be capable of translation but to Canterbury, York, or London.- Pluralities ought to be absolutely abolished, and incum bents enjoined to a strict residence on their livings for at least two-thirds of the year. The revenues now held by Deans and Chapters ought to be reduced to what would keep the cathedrals in repair, and pay proper incomes to a necessary number of officiating clergymen. All tithes (nay Parliament is pledged to it) ought to be forthwith commuted for a land tax on landed property, and, as among the Bishops, a less unequal distribution of clerical emoluments ought to be diligently aimed at. We hope and believe, that however some descriptions of Non- Conformists might be disposed to murmur at the inadequacy of such remedial measures for the evils acknowledged in the existing Church, three-fourths at least of the British nation would cheerfully accept and abide by them.—Times. " TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. " Sir,—Absence from town has prevented my replying earlier to the strictures of ' A Dissenter and Presbyterian,' nor should I now think his letter required any lengthened answer, if the misrepresentations contained in it were not , o extremely disproportioned to the slender web of.argu ment. " He begins by a most palpable misstatement. He says I ' assume that episcopacy must be right.' He no doubt takes it for granted that be is dealing with one of those high churchmen of Archbishop Laud's stamp, whose , watchwards were No bishop no church.' What I did gay was this :—' That episcopacy stood forth as the most obvious form of ecclesiastical polity which the reformed church of England could have chosen.' To have adopted any other would have been to run counter to all antiquity. But I am very far from asserting or believing that epis copacy has any claim to divine right : I consider it a matter purely of expediency. So far from refusing to the Scotch presbytery the name of a church,' I had it expressly in my eye when arguing for the principle on which Clint Oa vatatillalzuzcaz, ate founded , and / A/110r, as much as your correspondent can do, till unjustifiable attempts to introduce episcopacy into that country in the 17th century. lam not ashamed to say that Roman Catholic establishments are clearly defensible on the broad principle I contend for. " With respect to episcopacy or presbytery lording it' the one over the other, it is no reply to anything in my letter ; nor do 1 see how it affects the question of a national establishment of religion, representing the wishes of a great majority of the people. Declamation is not reasoning. Neither (as you aptly remarked) does the ' interference' of Churchme❑ with the religious opinions of Dissenters convey more meaning. I should like to know in what manner such interference is exercised. The Dissenters have indeed to contribute to the main- tenance of the Church, but they are equally obliged to contribute to all the other institutions of the country that are deemed by the Legislature advantageous to the state. What should we think of a Republican objecting to the support of a monarchy? "I am asked what is to be done in case the nation be equally divided between episcopacy and presbytery ? I answer that the supreme power in the state is even in that case bound to do what seenss best for the good of the community. A national establishment of religion being once deemed essential, must take place; and the form of its institution will be decided, your correspondent may be assured, without resorting to a physical conflict. "In regard to the manner in which the church of England got possession of its revenues, I thought the history of that transaction had been quite notorious. I will not deny that in the transfer from the Popish to the reformed Church the parties concerned, and the tyrant Henry at the head of them, too often served their own ends ; but such acts must not be imputed to their episco pacy or the Church of England ; they sprang from human avarice and selfishness, which pollute religious no less than secular matters. But your correspondent would have had these revenues, when once wrenched from the grasp of priests and monks, thrown into the common stock of the country.' This would indeed have been spoliation.' Does he not see that the question at that time was, not as to the funds, but the faith of the Church? The wild idea of di.joining the Church altogether from the State had not then entered into the imaginations of men; and the Protestant Church inherited naturally the revenues of its corrupted parent. "As to the que'tion of Who was to be umpire' in settling the disposition of the forfeited Church property, I can hardly believe it is proposed in earnest. Who but the supreme Parliament, upon whose sanction and support our national Church has now rested nearly SOO years? The sneer at their implied want of religious knowledge tells nothing in the way of argument. " I am aware that I am trespassing rather too far on your indulgence; but I cannot permit the concluding paragraph of Dissenter's' letter to pass without reply. In appealing to the practice of all ages and countries in supporting religious institutions connected with the state, I certainly did include those of Pagan nations ; and unless the ancient Greeks and Romans are entirely to forfeit their character of wise legislators, I shall continue to appeal triumphantly to them. To mention, as your cor respondent does, the Albigenses and Waldenses, as excep tions to my rule, is one of the most childish eva sions possible. How could these poor persecuted wretches have a public establishment ? Surely he should have pro duced, as another instance, the apostles, and the infant churches under the Pagan Roman empire. " I hope my premises' have now been established. My design in mentioning the few facts in my former letter, notorious as they were, was not to give the Die • centers (those of them who oppose the church of Eng land) any new information, but to remind them on what foundation the alliance between Church and State is really built. "I am, Sir, your obedient servant, " London, Dec. 27. " A CHURCHMAN." —Times. A New York Paper, containing the Speech of the American President, on the opening. of the Congress, was yesterday received by the North and South American Coffee-house. The American and European systems differ in many things. In the matter of Messages to the Le gislature, we think the advantage on the side of the Americans. The affairs of a people ought not to be concealed from that people. The Speech of an American President affords always a tolerably complete view of the domestic affairs and the foreign relations of the people of the United States. President Jackson commences with announcing the prevalence of peace and prosperity throughout the States. In the view which he gives of foreign relations, those with Britain take the first place. He alludes to the question of the north eastern boundary, which is not yet settled, but which he expects will soon be settled. Adverting to the successful negotiation with our Government for the erection of light-houses on the Bahamas, he takes the opportunity of expressing his gratification that the intercourse. between the two people is be coming daily more extensive, and the sentiments of mutual good will are constantly increasing. The relations with France do not appear to be so satisfactory. Something like disingenuous ness is insinuated against the Government of Louis Philip. One part of the Message is always looked to with interest in thiS country — the financial. The Treasury Receipts for the year will amount to more than 32 millions of dollars. The Revenue from Customs will be more than 28 millions ; and the Public Lands will yield about three millions. The Expendi ture for all objects, including the public debt, will not amount to 25 millions of dollars ; and a large balance will thus remain in the Treasury after satisfying all the appropriations chargeable on the revenue of the year. The whole debt of the United States on the Ist of Jan. next (to morrow), funded and unfunded, will be 4,764,082 dollars. In the course of next year the debt will be completely extinguished. Well may the President dilate on this proof of the goodness of the government— " We have waged two wars (he says) since we have become a nation, with one of the most powerful kingdoms in the world ; both of them undertaken in defence of our dearest rights—both successfully prosecut e d and honour ably terminated—and many of those who partook in the first struggle, as well as the second, will have lived to see the last item of the debt incurred in thee• necessary but expensive conflicts faithfully and honestly discharged; and we shall have the proud satisfaction of bequeathing to the public servants who follow us in the administration of the Government, the rare blessing of a revenue sufficiently abundant, raised without injustice or oppression to our citizens, and unencumbered with any burdens, but what they themselves shall think proper to impose upon them." This comes of paying only for necessary services. While the Americans were enjoying the blessings of a Government responsible to themselves, the fruits •of the industry of the people of this country were wrung from them to be employed in maintaining corruption, at home and abroad. England has great advantages over the United States. She is equally secure from foreign attack, and possesses greater facilities of communication. But a boroughmongering Go vernment has been ingenious in contriving how to waste her resources. No diminution of the Tariff, is recommended •for the coming year. But, as the debt will all be paid off in the year, the President is anxious to impress on the people the necessity of not increasing the wants of the Government, by unnecessary and profuse expenditure. The language of the President with respect to the Bank is that of strong accusation. He charges the Bank with attempting to influence the pub lic officers by means of its money, and declares that it was established by unquestionable proof that it was converted into a permanent elec tioneering engine. The question, he says, is' whether the people are to govern through their representatives, or their decisions are to be con trolled by the power and money of a great Cor poration. This subject will, of course, be one which will be keenly agitated in Congress. But we suspect the Presidentwill come off victorious. The idea of having shaken off the British yoke to be subjecLed to a gicat. IllUlley will hardly be palatable to the people of the United States. The President alludes, with great uneasiness, to the continual increase of disasters in the steam navigation, and he recom mends to the State Legislatures to endeavour to remedy the evil by penal legislation. He says nothing respecting the colonization of the ne groes ; but alludes to the impossibility of the Indians and Whites living within the same limits. —Morning Chronicle. COURT OF BANKRUPTCY, DEC. 30. MR. DAVIDGE'S BANKRUPTCY. A meeting of the creditors, under the fiat of bank ruptcy issued against Mr. Davidge, the late pro prietor of the Coburg Theatre (now the Victoria), was held this morning, before Mr. Commissioner WILLIAms, for the proof of debts and choice of assignees. Mr. Davidge, on his examination by the Learned Commissioner, entered into a somewhat minute detail of his misfortunes. He said his debts amounted to about 8001., and he considered his pro perty would nearly pay his creditors in full. He had 2001. ow ing him by Mr. Rutland, the Sheriff's officer, which would be available ; he had besides the lease of the City Theatre, on which he bad within the last eighteen months expended 7501. ; that lease he had deposited for 280/, and he thought if properly sold it would realise the sum he had ex pended on the house; the lease had sixteen years to run, and the theatre had been let at 101. a week— he said he was, four years ago, worth nearly 10,000/., but he had suffered severe losses; be lost considerably by the Liverpool Circus, and within the last four years he lost on the Coburg Theatre no less than 7,000/. Mr. Commissioner W ILLIAMS inquired what was the reason that he resorted to bankruptcy to clear him from his difficulties ? Mr. Davidge had been most cruelly oppressed by one creditor, whose debt he tried, but in vain, to settle. The Official Assignee observed that Mr. Da vidge's books had been very accurately kept, and his accounts appeared highly satisfactory. The COMIISSIONER asked what allowance Mr. Davidge expected ? He was sure that what he asked would be allowed. Mr. Davidge should decline any allowance, his professional exertions would support him and his family. Mr. Commissioner WILLIAMS expressed himself perfectly satisfied, and complimented Mr. Davidge on his accounts, and the creditable appearance of his affairs. He should be, be said, sorry to see a re spectable man, like Mr. Davidge, otherwise situated. He hoped the City Theatre was still open. Mr. Davidge replied in the affirmative. The debts proved amounted to 300/. ; and a creditor, named Simpson, was appointed assignee. The second meeting is fixed for the 24th of January. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. BOW-STREET. A CONFIRMED DISCIPLE. OF BACCIIIIS.—On Sa turday last a gentleman, who gave the name John Jones, was charged at this office with breaking a quantity of glass and china in the Saloon in Covent garden Theatre on the previous evening, while in a state of intoxication. He admitted the offence, and was fined N., the value of the property destroyed, which he paid, and was discharged. The same person was yesterday morning brought up, charged with refusing to pay a cabman two shillings, the amount of the fare for the hire of his cab. The defendant on this occasion gave the name Thomas Millington. The cabman stated that the defendant entered his cab in the Strand, on Sunday morning at an early hour, when, after driving him about to a numler of hotels in the ne i g hb our h oo d of Covent-garden, where he was refused admittan ce , on hi s re f usa l to pay his fare at six o'clock, he gave • himinto cus tody. He was very drunk at the time. Mr. HALLS inquired of the defendant where was his place of residence ? The defendant was living at Greenwich. Mr. HALLS said, that he .thought his best way would be to.return to his friends at Greenwich, and endeavour in future to keep himself sober. The defendant thought. he was 'perfectly capable of judging as to the best course for him to pursue. Mr. HALLS observed, that if he continued to pursue his present course, he would in all probability end his days in a prison. The defendant did not want the Magistrate's ad vice. Mr. HALLS replied, that it was his duty to give him advice. The defendant, in an under tone, said that he might bully him, but that he should not attend to his advice. Mr. HALLS asked him if he had 4s. to pay the cabman?—The defendant had not so much in his pocket, but would pawn his gold watch which the policeman had taken from him. The constable produced the watch, which was a hanthome gold hunter with appendages, and handed it over to the prisoner, who ‘'as removed to the lock-up until he should have paid the money. MARLBORO UGH- STREET. ASSAULT.—Mr. Robert Thighton, a gentleman living at Shepherd's Bush, brought Captain Goad before Messrs. CONANT and DYER, on a charge of assault. The complainant called at a club-house, No. 9, Grafton -street, a few evenings ago, in the way of business; and, having met Captain Coad in the hall, he touched his hat to him, and said he should be thankful if Captain Coad would settle a small account which was betwixt .them. The Captain replied, " You scoundrel, how dare you write such . 'letters to me as you have done ?" The complain ant answered, " If the letters caused any unpleasant feeling, it was in his (Captain Coad's) power to put an end to it, by paying the amount." Captain Coad retorted, by saying, if he was master there, he would kick him out of the house. After some further altercation; complainant said, " If you do not pay me, I will find a way to make you. You are a mean fellow for giving me this trouble?' Captain Coad, in a violent passion, replied," Call me a fellow !" and then, foaming at the mouth, snatched a knife off the table; and, had not the' steward of the club stept in between them, some , very serious injury, he believed, would have been inflicted upon him. In explanation of the charge, Captain Coad said, the complainant had. repeatedly created a disturb ance at the General Service Clubhouse, in Grafton street, for a very trifling poultry account (about 16s. 6d,), which he alleged to have furnished to him at the Club. The complainant had also written seve ral letters, containing expressions which no gentle man could possible endure ; when he accidently en countered him at the club-house, a few days ago, he again made use of offensive expressions, and in sisted upon being paid his demand of 16s. 6d. He (defendant) told him, if any sum was fairly due to him, he should be paid, but with respect to the pre sent demand, no orders had been given by him for the fowls alleged to have been provided. The com plainant replied, if he (Captain Coad) did not pay him, he would serve him out, putting himself in a fighting attitude, and applying the term " Cheat" to him, which aggravated him greatly, and lie cer tainly did apply the epithet of scoundrel in return. The steward of the club, when he entered the room, in consequence of hearing the altercation, saw the complainant standing in a fighting attitude be fore Captain Coad. To prevent violence, he found it necessary to put the complainant out of the room. The MAGISTRATES dismissed the warrant. EMIGRATION.—A man named Pollard came to this office to complain that the parish of St. James had sent away his daughter, Caroline Pollard, to the Cape of Good Hope, without his knowledge or sanction. About five years ago, having had the misfortune to rose ioc %etre, ne bad found it Lc, apply for parish relief, and accordingly succeeded in pro curing an order for the admission of his daughter, Caroline Pollard, then about eight years old, into the workhouse belonging to the parish of St. James. From time to time he sent to the work house to make inquiries after her welfare, but when a relative called there a few days ago, he learned through her that his "dear child" had been sent to a foreign country by the parish authorities. Mr. Bryant could not help feeling the utmost surprise that the man should have had the audacity to come forward and make a complaint after the conduct he had pursued towards his daughter, pro vided the girl in question was his daughter, which indeed he had reasonable doubt of. The proposition of the Society for the suppression of Juvenile Va grancy, to send out young, healthy girls to the Cape of Good Hope, had been, he believed, generally embraced by the Metropolitan parishes, and the parish of St. James, perceiving at once the humane and admirable objects of the Society, had made the ' requisite advance of 101. each girl, and had lately sent away from the workhouse about a dozen young female paupers. In all cases the consent of the party was first obtained, and if she had friends or parents, their consent was also solicited. Where reluctance on either side was expressed, no attempt or desire on the part of the parish was, adopted to overcome it. In proof of which the parish had pro vided two lists, one of which was required to be attested by the friends and relatives of the girl, to show that the act had their entire approval, and the other list was for the purpose of being attested by the parties themselves, if they were orphans. Now in the orphan list the name of Caroline Pollard ap peared, and during the five years she had been in the house, it was never known that she had a father alive, and the girl herself was quite ignorant that she had a parent in existence. The man had never called to make inquiries concerning his "dear child," as he now called Iser, and he very much doubted (if he was her father) whether his application was not founded on selfish motives. He bad questioned the iturse and porter at the.workhouse, and they posi tively stated that no one claiming a near relationship to the girl had called to see her during the five years she was supported in the workhouse. Mr. Newell, the omnibus proprietor, said the complainant had been in his employ about fifteen months, and having heard the particulars of his case from his own lips, he thought it exceedingly hard that his feelings as a father had not been con sulted with regard to the destination of his daughter, and, therefore, he had taken the matter up with a view of having the circumstances investigated. 11r. CONANT observed, no one felt a stronger desire to pay respect to parental feeling, in whatever class it might appear, than himself, but in the present instance, he did not think the complainant was en titled to much sympathy. Mr. Bryant thought he was justified in applying to the Bench to commit the complainant, who had, while in full work, and with only himself to support, allowed his daughter to remain chargeable to the parish. The Magistrates thought that this point had better be reserved for a future application. QUEEN-SQUARE. JUVENILE DEPRAVlTY.—Yesterday five boys, whose ages varied from eight to twelve years, were charged with stealing live links from the shop door of an oilman residing in Chelsea. Mr. GREGORIE, not wishing to send boys of such tender years to a prison where their morals were more likely to be contaminated than if they were at liberty, ordered them to be remanded until their parents or fziends could attend. In the course of the day the parents of four of the prisoners came to the office; but the father and mother of a boy named Roxbury, about nine years of age, refused to attend, they asserting to the policeman who called upon them, that they did not care what be came of him. The fathers of three of the prisoners promised to chastise their boys, and take greater care of them in future; upon which Mr. GREGORIE ordered them to be discharged. The mother of the other prisoner did not like to beat her child,who had never been in trouble before. A policeman contradicted this, and informed the bench that the boy had twice previously been in custody. He (added the constable) was noted for his daring character„and once a man was trans ported for robbing him of some money, which, it subsequently transpired, the boy bad previously taken from his father, and absconded with it. Mr. GREGORIE severely lectured the mother for the manner in which she was bringing up her child ; and in conclusion observed that the prisoner was an unhappy boy in having such parents. The boy was then discharged, with a caution never to be seen at the office again. As the parents of the boy Roxbury refused to attend, the child was detained until another application was made to his parents to come and own him. ASSAULT ON A POLICEMAN.—A journeyman baker, named John Coppin, was charged with being drunk and assaulting a policeman. It appeared that a constable, named Rushton, of the L division, took the prisoner into custody for being intoxicated, when the prisoner caught the policeman by the stock, and ❑early strangled him. The Magistrates convicted him in the penalty of 20s. for the assault, and, in default of payment, he was committed to prison for fourteen days. MAR YLEB ONE. Yesterday Thomas TVyse, the keeper of a toll gate at Highgate-hill, was charged with having shot a youth, named George Lee, aged sixteen. The prisoner, who stated that it was qdite an accident, was remanded fcr the verdict of the Coro ner's inquest. UNION HALL. THE PASTRY COOK AN!) THE DANDY DOCTOR.— Yesterday T. Rosweer, a pastry-cook, in the New Kent-road, was charged with an assault upon a me dical student. The complainant, a• fashionably-dressed young man, went into the defendant's shop, and had not been there long before .the defendant made some impertinent remarks upon his dress and deportment. •H,e remonstrated with him•; upon Which the defen dant said complainaht had the hydrophobia, and bundled him out of the shop, at the same time giv ing him a hearty kick on one of his sides. The defendant replied, that the complainant was in the habit of lounging into his shop with a lighted segar, puffing the smoke in all directions, quizzing the young ladies who might enter the shop, and yet never laying out a farthing of money--not even buying a penny stale bun. He had certainly kicked him out of the shop, but the young fellow had first attempted to kiss the female who attended the shop. The complainant said he saw no reason why he should have been singled out of other young men who lounged into the shop. Mr. WEDGEWOOD dismissed the warrant. LUNAR ECLIPSE. GOSPORT OBSERVATORY, DEC. 27.—Although the night of the 26th was generally wet and windy, yet there were opportunities for observing the progress of the eclipse of the moon, by means of partial openings in the clouds and the aid of a telescope. At 7h. 41m. mean time, the best defined edge of the earth's shadow cut the lunar spot near the one numbered 37 in the map of the moon, and the nearest to her limb in the lower left band quadrant, which was about 2m. 10s. after the beginning of the eclipse. Soon afterwards rain came on, and continued at intervals nearly half the time. But for half an • hour dur ing the total darkness the clouds dispersed, and the stars shone faintly through a hazy atmosphere, when an awfully grand appearance of a dark red colour presented itself on the moon's disc, which, from her great altitude in the S.E. quarter, was rendered the more remarkable. Such l an appearance as this, by the refraction of the earth's at mosphere, or the bending of the rays of light that passed through it, so as to throw a few on her disc, would not have been so conspicuous had the lower stratum of the air been tolerably clear, or in a less hazy state ; for its hazi ness and rapid condensation contributed materially to pro duce that effect—the moon would otherwise have appeared of a dull copper colour at that time. It was also observed, that while the moon exhibited a dark red colour, there was at her lower Jun. - v—r,t crescent of a brieir bass co• lour, which latter may have arisen from a greater refraction at that point, and from the lower limb being nearest to the earth and sun. At 10h. 19m. 15s. mean time, there was another opening in the passing clouds, when the' moon's bright limb had emersed a little, and the lunar spot, as before mentioned, was again intersected by the defined edge of the earth's shadow, being about 2w. 10s. after her emersion from total darkness. At a quarter to eleven o'clock the moon's disc was again more than half enlightened, when a close yellow corona, two small rings of red and green, and a large faint halo surrounded her, which were immediately followed by steady rain, and no more of the eclipse was seen. As a proof of the extraordinary mildness of the season, there is to be seen in the Nursery of Mr. Phil lips, Wandsworth-road, a pear tree in full blossom. Se veral of the flowers have even set, and the young pears have quite a healthy appearance. STATE OF TRADE AT SADDLEWORTII.— The woollen, weaving, and spinning trades at Saddleworth are very brisk—the hands are all fully employed. The goods manufactured at that place are broad and narrow cloths, the chief of which are sent to North America. Bolton Chronicle. ROCHDALE FLANNEL MARKET, MON DAY..—To-day the market was bt isker than it has been for several weeks past. Low whites and goods for dyeing were bought very quickly ; middle qualities sold well, and some inquiries were made for finer sorts.—Bolton Chron. REPEAL OF THE UNION.—The counties are following the example set by the city of Dublin. Meetings are about being convened in different parts of the county Dublin, to petition for the abolition of tithes and the repeal of the Union. The town and union of Swords meet at one o'clock on Sunday next, in compliance with a most numerously-signed requisition.—Dublin Morning Register. CHOLERA.—The number of persons who have been taken ill with this disease at Christiana, Nor way, amounts to 1,395, and of theses six were taken on 9th of December. The number of persons who have died of it is 795. It seems in general to be disappearing from Norway. An auctioneer's lady produced twins, which bore so much of a likeness to each other, that it was hard to tell which was which, so her spouse determined to christen one of the tot -Ibid. and the other Ditto, from his own cltalogue.—Baltimore Paper. DR. CHURCH'S STEAM CARRIAGE—(From a Correspondent).—On Thursday morning a trial was made of this carriage, to show the facility with which it may be guided and turned in a narrow compass, the ten dency with which its wheels have to skim the surface of a road, and the ease with which it may be propelled. The place chosen for the experiment was about the most unfa vourable that could have been selected, viz.—the yard of the manufactory, an enclosure of only 40 feet in diameter, the surface of which, being composed of light cinders, and saturated with water, yielded to the slightest tread. The trial was highly_ satisfactory; the carriage having been driven round the yard several times, under a very slight pressure of steam, and the indentation in the cinders not being deeper than would have been made by a gig-wheel. It was supposed that one-fourth even of the little power which was used, would have propelled the carriage upon a hard road ; and the only regret felt by the engineers was, that the steering-gear had not beets completed, so as to have warranted their taking it directly out upon the Co ventry road. This will now be done as soon as possible (probably in a fortnight), when the public will be able to judge whether the merits of the undertaking have been over or under-rated.—Birmingham Journal. AWFUL DEATH OF A ROBBER.—Yesterday morning, at an early hour, the house of Mr. Willis, lea ther-seller, of Clerkenwell-close, was forced into by thieves, and, on the alarm being made, Hull and Bray, of the G division, entered the place to apprehend the thief or thieves, when one of them, in an effort to escape, climbed over a door leading to the back yard, when he fell down, and it is conjectured that through fright he was seized with convulsions. The constables made their way to the yard, where they found him lying upon his back evidently in a fit, with an apron belonging to Mr. Willis tied round his body. He was instantly placed on a abutter and car ried to Roso►non-street station_house, where Mr. Whipple, the surgeon, immediately attended him, and rendered the most prompt and humane assistance, but the unfortunate man could not be restored to his senses so as to be ens• bled to speak, and be expired shortly after his arrival at the station_house. He was attired in a fustian jacket, has the appearance of a mechanic, and is about thirty-five or forty years of age. Nothing was found in his possession to lead to a discovery of who or what he was, and his body is as yet unowned. Information was forwarded to Mr. Stirling, the Coroner, and an inquest will be held upon the body. ELEVEN PERSONS DROWNED IN THE RIVER Onse.—On Thursday noon, about half past one o'clock, the singers attached to the parish church of Stlllingfleet, and who consist of the most exemplary persons of the village, left their happy homes for the purpose, as is usual at this season of the year, of visiting the principal farmers within the parish, which includes the villages of Stillingfleet, Moorby, Acaster, Selby, and Kel field. They had been to Moorby and Acaster, and were proceeding, at half past four o'clock, in a boat to Kelfield, when, by one of those mysterious visitations of Providence which occur to warn or to alarm us, the boat was swamped, and out of a party of fourteen, no less than eleven human being•, five men and six young women, were drowned. At a place called Mill Mooth, about a quarter of a mile from Acaster, they meta vessel, coal-laden, coming down the river, hauled by a horse. The party in the boat called out to Stephen Green, the hauling man, to hold the line tight, so as to allow them to go under it. Green replied be would not do that; for, if he attempted to do so, he should sweep them out of the boat. He, therefore, slackened the rope, to let the boat go over it, when one of the men in the boat seized the rope and attempted to throw it over the boat. In this he failed, and the line caught the stern of the boat, which, being thrown on her broadside, instantly filled with water and capsized. Green saw most of the men in the water, shouting for assistance. Unfortunately, the boat attached to the vessel had got loose, and the men on board were unable to render any assistance, except to two men named Toes and Fisher, who had seized hold of the hauling rope ; another, named Eccles, saved himself by swimming, sup ported by the oars of the boat. The following is a cor rect list of the sufferers :—Henry Spencer, labourer, aged about 50, and his two daughters, Sarah, aged 16, and Bessy, aged 15; Christopher Spencer, brother to Henry, labourer, aged about 40 ; Jahn Turner, fisherman and common carrier, aged about 59, and Jane Turner, his daughter, aged 16 ; Thomas Webster, labourer ; William Bristow, .officiating parish clerk ; Sarah Eccles, aged 16, daughter of George Eccles, one of the survivors ; Eliz,beth Buckle,. aged 15, daughter of Sir. Buckle, innkeeper ; Clarissa Sturdy, daughter of Mr. Sturdy, schoolmaster. LONDON MARKETS. BREAD. The highest price of PRICE Bread OF in the Metropolis is 830. fot thl 41b. Loaf. There are others who sell from 50. to 13cl. beloi that price. PRICE OF SEEDS.—Dec. 30. • New English Red Clover Seed (per Cwt.) —s. 545. fine 60s. 655. Old Ditto Ditto —s• —s. line New Foreign Ditto _ _ 565. 625. fine —s. 651. Old Ditto ------ --s. 555. fine —s. 60s. 565. 60s. fine 635. 663 —s. —s. 'fine —s. —s. 18s. 20s. fine 225. 245. —s. fine —s. —s. —s. —s. fine —s. —s. —s. —s. 83s. fine 86s. —s. I]s. fine --s. 138. ,(per 448. 468. fine 48s, 508. —s. —s. new 408.445. —s. —B. new —s. —s. —s. 60s. fine —B. 641. 48s. 565. —s. fine —s. —s. —s. 60s fine 665. Old Ditto Diti New Trefoil . English Carraway Foreign Ditto ~—. Coriander —..,....—. Foin re Gra Pace' Linseed ; for f( Ditto, ftirc Can aiy Seed, 14 . 0, Vitt() Old— —B. —3. fine —e. White Mustard Seed —(per —s. 12s. 13s. fine —s.' Brown Ditto Turnip Seeds, —s. —a. ISa. fine 20s. Green and Red Ditto —s. —s. 18s. fine 2ls. Tares, Old 4B. Od. fine 4s. 9d. Ditto New Rape Seed, English, fine (per Last) 2N. Foreign 241. 265. PRICES OP HOPS.—Dec. 30. New Kent Pockets (per cwt.) .. 51. Os. 61. Os. is 6!. 101. Choice .„, East 71. Os. 0/. Os. to 81. Os. Choice 81. 10s. 0/. Os. to 91. Os. New Sossex Pockets 5/. Os. 01. Os. to 5/. 10s. Superfine Ditto Farnham Its. 01. Os. to NI. 12s. Ditto (seconds) 03. 0/. Os to 11/. Os. Rape Oil, Linseed PRICE OF OIL. brown ...............37/. 65...4.... Refined .........f3O 0 it ...... 27 10 , 13 0 6.10 . ... Linseed Oil Cake at the Mill, per thousand Rape Cake, per ton PRICE OF POTATOES.—Dec. 30. , '3/. N. to 31. lOs. per ton. Os. to 21. ss. ditto. Os. to 41. 10s. ditto. 31. 10s. to 41. Os. ditto. ' Os. to 21. Os. ditto. 5haw5,.....—...-«.;. Middling ..,.....,....,., Marsh Champions Scotch Red 5.,....... Chats .«............,.... WHITECHAPEL HAY MARKET.—Dec. 28. Hay 655. Od. to 84s. Ocl. 24 Clover 70s. Od. to 959. Od. s. Od. to MI. Od. rni CE3 OF Per lb. d. to d. Butts, English 14 25 Ditto, 13 21 Dressing 11 15 14 16 Ditto, light Crop Hides, light.. 12 14 Ditto 40 to 501 b. 13 161 Ditto LEATHER. Per lb. d. to d. English Horse Hides.. 14 19 Spanish Ditto ...........„,.. 17 26 Per dozen. Calf SkitiZ. 90 1(74:(1b. 13 21 Ditto ........... 40 to 60Ib. 17 23 Ditto 70 to 90Ib. 20 23 Small Seals, Greenland 16 18 Large dittt l2 16 PRICE OF CANDLES. The price of Store Candles, in the retail shops, is as follows: Candles, per dos. 7s. Od. to Bs. Od. 1 Moulds, per d0zen,........9*. 6d RICE OF RAW FAT, per stone of Eilb. Price of Tallow (as stated by the Tallow 2s. Ild. PRICE OF TALLOW, SOAP, &c. per 112th. Cown Tallow ..................... 48s. Od. Yellow 50ap....................... 625. Od. Yellow Russia- 4Bs. Od. Mottled 70s. Od. White —s. Od. White MINPAO 725. Od. Soap Ditto...-. _ a. Od. Graves —....—.....,....,—. 14s. Od. Melted Stuff,.. 375. Od. Good Dreg 5...............,.,. 58. Od. Ditto R0ugh......................... 21s. Od. COAL MARKET.—Dec, 30. Per Ton. s. d. Per Ton. s. di kdair's .............................. 15 5 Walls End Hilda, .16 3 Chester Main , 15 0 Walls End Killingworth 16 9 Holywell 16 6 Ditto Northumberland... 16 6 Ord's Redhugh ................... 14 0 Walls End Perkins........ 16 0 Picton....— --..... 15 0 Walls End Lambton ........ 19 0 Pontop Wind50r....,..,,..,. 15 6 W. E. Russell's Hetton... 18 6 L ' anfieid...............................,. 15 6 Walls End Stewart ' s *Ma 18 9 townley l5 9 Dixon's Butterknowl...... 15 II West Hart1ey,.....,.,. 15 6 Walls End Tees ............... 17 d Wylam Walls End Bell & Brown 16 0 New Flockton, Milne, Walls End Carr and Co. 15 0 and Co. l4 Walls End Heat0n.....—... 17 6 Silkstone Popplewell.. w . 14 Ships arrived since last market-day, 15. M. de Bassompiere one day asked one of hit farmers what was his age. "I am no t qu it e cer t a i n, '• replied he, "It is either thirty-eight or forty-eight " What !" was the response, " not know your own age?' " No, Sir," replied the farmer, " I count my money, mi income, and my cattle ; but of my years I keep no reek oning, because I am well aware that I shall lose none C. them, and that nobody will rob me of them." A HINT TO THE " BLUES."--" Napoleon, says Bourrienne, used to say, " I like women that mal , men of themselves as little as I like effeminate met • There is a proper part for every one to play in the world We regret to say that incendiarism appears ti be on the increase. Scarcely a Provincial Paper reach town in which some fresh instance of this atrocious clic is not recorded. CONSOLATION ON A DEATH-BED.---" shall die happy," said the expiring husband to the wife who was weeping most dutifully by the bed-side, " if yo will only promise not to marry that object of my unceas ing jealousy, your cousin Charles." Make yourse quite easy, love," said the expectant widow; " I am et: gaged to his brother !"—Moments of Idleness. CHOLERA AT ORMISTON.—We regret k learn, that cholera has made its appearance in the villagt of Ormiston, in East Lothian. Up to Thursday las eight cases and six deaths bad occurred. It is remarkabl and characteristic of thin fatal disease, that while it rage at Tranent, at the distance of two miles, we had no cast ? in Ormiston; and now, while no one is thinking of suc . a matter, it has suddenly made its appearance. 0 p Sunday last, a collection was made for the purpose of sup - plying the poor of the parish with coals and flannel, whe upwards of 121. was received. A soup kitchen has ala been established, at the expense of the Earl of Hopetoun.. Edinburgh Weekly Chronicle. MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR.--Between five any six o'clock on Saturday afternoon, a gentleman was passim t along the towing-path of the Paddington Canal, near th wooden bridge, accompanied by his dog, when all of sudden the animal, at one particular spot, made a dead se by the water aide, and commenced howling and wbinini in a piteous manner, and it was not until the gentlema' had passed on to some distance that the animal could b induced to leave the spot. However, a person name( Edward Clare, having observed the dog, concluded the there must be something extraordinary in the matter, ant commenced a minute examination of the spot ; he at lengtl discovered, sunk about two feet deep in the water, ant exactly opposite where the dog had made the set, a basket which, on drawing to land with a stick, he found, to If, ' s c fright and amazement, contained the body of a child. It had evidently been in the water for two or thrr..lays, at it had already become in a state of partial decomposition. No clue has been obt tined which promises to lead to I discovery of the unnatural parent. BIRTHS. On the 30th inst., the lady of F. 0. Dickins, Esq., of Upper Stamford-street, of a son. On the 29th inst., in Brunswick-square, the lady of James Farker, Esq., of a son. On the 29th inst., in Gloucester-place, Portman.square, the lady of E. W. Blunt, Esq., of Kempshots, Hants, of a son. On the 29th inst., at Streatham, the lady of Charles Ring, • Esq., of a daughter. On the 29th inst., in Chester-terrace, Regent's-park, the lady of W. G. Hayter, Esq., of a daughter. i . .1:, , , • ,- . i •, i • t ,iri MARRIED. On the 26th inst., at the British Embassy, Paris, Edward Eugene Coutelait, of the 10th French Chasseurs, youngest son of Antoine Coutelait, of Normandy, to Louisa, youngest daughter of the late Leyon Levison. On the 26th inst., Horatio Ross, Esq., of Roisie Castle, Vt. r., to Justine Henrietta, third daughter of Colin Macrae, Esq., of the Grove, Nairnshire, and formerly Member of the Courts of Policy and Justice in the colony of Demerara. On the 28th inst., John Casley, Esq., of Guildford-street, Russell-square, to Maria, youngest daughter of the late John Braddick, Esq., of Boughton-mount, Kent. On the 26th inst., at St. Giles's Church, Oxford, the Rev. R. C. Clifton, Fellow of Worcester College, Oxford, to Charlotte Hornsby, third daughter of Percival Walsh, Esq., of Oxford. On the 28th inst., at Ball's-pond Church, Islington, Marion Pitt Russell to Mr. John Thurston, both of Islington. On the 17th inst., at St. Mary's, Marylebone, Harriett, widow of the late George James Taylor, Esq., of the Bengal Civil Service, to William Thomas Christopher, Esq., of Great Coram-street. On the 26th inst., at Beckenham, Kent, J. B. Monro, Esq. of the Middle Temple, to Emily, eldest daughter of the late Robert Webber, Esq., of Brockley Hill. DIED. .On the 29th inst., at Combe-Hay, near Bath, William Pap well, Brigstock, Esq., aged 43, Magistrate and Representative in Parliament for the Eastern Division of Somersetshire. On the 29th inst., Mr. John Hughes, of Torrington-square, aged 84. On the 9th inst., at Cheltenham, aged 26, Mary, only daugh ter of the O'Driscoll. On the 30th inst , aged four months, mien..daughter of Mr. Davidson, Southampton-street; Bloomsbury-square. On the 28th inst., Mary, third child bf Mr. John Freeman, Millbank.row. On the 28th inst., Hannah, w if e of Mr. Willi am B evan, o f Charlton-crescent, Islington, in her 64th year, On the 30th inst., in the Sanctuary, Westminster, William Cave, the infant son of L. C. Humfrey, Esq., aged 10 months. On the 27th inst., :it Great Ealing, George, second son of the late 7 6th Regiment. OnL Lieut.-Colonel lo e t .;Ctohinst l , G a il tH o o r u e2 risiow, Mrs. Elizabeth Ormes, in her 78th year. On the 19th inst , at Spittal Hill, near East Retford; In her 79th year, Mrs. Elizabeth Creassey, wife of William ereassex, Gent., of that place. /As . . PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY munD9 YOUNG,ATTIA SOY Ornes, 112, STRAND. Ditto , '