The Sun. — London, England, 1854-01-26 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 26, 1854. REFORM MEETING AT MANCHESTER. remonstrance ;he did not want to prejudge them, and , though he was not in the habit of praising Ministers, he On Tuesday evening a meeting of the leading Lib erals believed Lord Aberdeen and his colleagues had hitherto of Lancashire, numbering in all about 250 gentle ,men, exerted themselves to the utmost to preserve the peace took place at Manchester. There were on the pi s m em of the world. He must say he was astonished at th e Mr. George Wilson (chairman), Mr. Cobden, M.P., position some portion of the Liberal press had taken on Mr. Bright, M.P., Mr. Milner Gibson, M.P M r . this subject. They had not hesitated to enter the palace Cheetham, M.P., Mr. Kershaw, M.P., Mr. William of the Sovereign (here the whole meeting rose to their r feet and cheered veh ementl y for several m in ute s ) , for the Brown, M.P., Mr. Miall, M.P., Mr. James Heywood, M.P., Mr. Barnes, M.P., Alderman Watkins, Mr. Purpose, n ot of defending the constitution, but of exciting Alexander Henry, Mr. Mark Philips, Mr. L. Heyworth, the people to rush headlong into war. He turned with pleasure to o ther topics, which were of great importance M.P., Mr. William Rawson, Mr. Henry Ashworth , to the people of this country. On the question of reform Mr. Thomas Bazley, Alderman Barnes, Sir Elkanah Armitage, &c. he was in favour of extending the borough franchise at After speeches from the chairman and Mr. Milner l eas t as Lord John Russell proposed in 1852. As to a 51. franchise with ratiag, which in Manchester would be Gibson, about a 71. franchise, the great advantage of such a Mr. COBDEN spoke at great length, referring to course would be to admit the intelligent and frugal por various topics. He said :—We must not take the fact tion of the working classes to the suffrage, and thus give of a few thousand men—and probably, after all, but a them a platform where they would meet on terms of few thousand lads and lasses—having gone wrong upon equality with their employers, which was the best way a question of political economy, as a proof t hat the o i l reconciling class diff erences b e t ween the two parties. great mass of the community could not be trusted. If He expressed himself against the plan which had been that rule is to obtain, I am afraid our disfranchisement proposed for representi ng m i nor ities by having three must be wide indeed. If all those who have not yet members. He was satisfi e d th a t members worked better mastered all the problems of political economy are not for their constituents and for the community when all to have votes, I am afraid we must begin by disfran- the members for one place voted one way. He con chising Bucks and Dorsetshire. I was very much struck the other day, whilst reading the lif e of Lord Jeffrey, eluded by stati ng th a t, th oug h he might be called un with a letter which he wrote, dated Au g ust 24, 1810, at patriotic in the views he had expressed, yet he loved a time when you here were suff erin g extreme distress, his country, and it was his fervent prayer that she might ride secure in all the majesty of goodness and of great and when great disaffection and tumult were manifested ness, unharmed by the insolence of faction, and unim by the labouring Population. Ile says, " Our present I paired by the storms of time. (Cheers.) radical evil is the excess o f our p roductive power, the want of demand for our m anufactures and industry, or, in other words, the excess of our population ; and for this I am afraid there is no radical remedy but starving out the surplus, horrible as it is." Now, recollecting that this was his deliberate opinion, and that it went to justify all the breaking of machinery, and all the riots and tumults to put down the accuniu.• lation of capital that was going on—remembering this, should it not make us a little tolerant towards a body of working men—limited in number and sadly neglected in point of education, who have not arrived at all the hidden and secret causes which decide the relative C r . rangements between capital and labour. (Cheers.) Alluding to a pamphlet he published in 1835, Mr. Cobden said—That pamphlet, from beginning to end, e xpressed these views :—Don't go to war to maintain the independence and integrity of America. America is the only rival you have to fear in England. Barbarism will not overturn civilisation in these days. With our improvements in machinery and the discovery of gun powder, there will never be another irruption of the Goths. My arguments went to show that Turkey was a decaying country ; that, for 150 years before, all the authorities that could be obtained pronounced it to be a declining and decaying country. Well, that crisis of the Eastern question blew over. There are now the same instruments at work, and the same arguments METROPOITAN COMMISSION OF SEWERS. A special general court of the Metropolitan Commis sion of Sewers was held yesterday morning at the Spread Eagle Hotel, High-street, Wandsworth, for the purpose of hearing appeals and for transacting such other mat ters of urgency as might require immediate attention. The commissioners present were Mr. Richard Jebh (chairman), Mr. George Spencer Smith, and Mr. Thos. Hawes. used, and we are called upon again, just as we were in 1835, to maintain the independence and integrity of the Turkish empire. But we are called upon to do more — we are called upon to make war against Russia. These are two distinct questions. Our hostility to Russia, and a determination to keep Russia within her present boundaries, is a distinct question ; and whether you will maintain the Turks or Mahomedanism as a per - - manent rule in Europe. You might if you liked look at the map and say, " There is Russia ; we will make war against you if you remove those marks which now form your boundary upon the map." You might make that declaration, and I do not say it is impossible you could accomplish your object ; but you might go to war for it, and of this I am certain that it would be more possible to do that than by any process of war or diplomacy to main tain Turkey as a ruling power permanently in Europe. Englishmen are nowhere more popular—nowhere do they exercise a more social sway than they do in Russia. You will find at St. Petersburgh 30 or 40 English houses, great mercantile establishments, by far the most in fluential body of merchants to be found in any part of Europe—for our merchants have been declining as a body, in numbers as well as in wealth and influence, in all parts except St. Petersburgh. But there is no hostility in Russia towards Englishmen. They meet with no such thing. There is an English club at St. Petersburgh, founded on our principles, called the English club, and conducted after the manner of your club in Mozeley street. Their horse-racing is an imitation of ours in England. You can hardly go into a nobleman's family in Russia., but you find the children given in charge to English nurses, and I do not know a titter compliment that can be paid to you as a, nation. Now I defy any. body to bring forward a single fact to show that there exists a national prejudice ea the part of Russia against England. I might shock you if I were to add that there is something in the social organisation of Russia that resembles that of England more than any other country in Europe, because Russia and England aro the only two countries where you find, on the one hand, elevated to an inaccessible altitude, the Demidoffs or Potemkins in the one country, Sutherlands and Bedfords in the other, and where you have about them as an agricultural population a peasantry entirely divorced from the soil, and between whom and the nobles there is an impassable gulf over which they can never tread. Russia is making an unjust aggression upon a neighbouring state—(cheers)—and upon that question of the injus. tice of the Government of Russia towards the Go vernment of Turkey there are no two opinions in this country. If you ask me what my opinion of the con duct of the Russian Government or the Russian Czar towards the government of Turkey is, I will say that it is unjust, aggressive, unreasonable, and insolent. But if you ask me to go further, and to transfer that ex pression of opinion upon the conduct of Russia into an act by which I shall assume to myself the right and the power to chastise Russia because she is unjust and inso lent to her next neighbour, then I say you have shifted your ground completely, and must show me, first of all, that I, as an Englishman, am invested with the power and responsibility of acting as a policeman all over the civilised world. But I say it is a question of interest. You are afraid that if Russia comes to Turkey and gets possession of Constantinople, she will become a great maritime power, will absorb all the influence of the Mediterranean, and' will become dangerous to England. Very well. How will Russia, when she gets possession of Constantinople, acquire all the power ? Constantino ple itself will not give this power, or what have the Turks been doing for the last 400 years ? How is it that that country has sunk to a state of miserable decrepitude, not capable of protecting its own frontier, or even of de fending itself against its own satraps ? Why is it ? Why if Russia is to gain this power and influence at Constan tinople, and become a great maritime power, it can only be by encouraging commerce and increasing her wealth through the means of manufactures and industry. Mer chant vessels will not sail ready rigged and manned down the Wolga and Danube because Russia possesses this territory. She must have a merchant navy like all other nsions—Like the Venetians, the Americans, and the Vrglish ; she dust have industlyand energy, and ac cumeate wealth through her commercial energy and the skill and intelligence of her artizans ; and before she can do this, she must cease to be a barbarous power. But I defy her to increase her wealth or commerce from I Constantinople, but through her commerce with you more than with any other nation. How has America become so great, but by sending so many ships to the ports in this country ; and the same process must go on with regard to Russia. When Russia shall have arrived at that state of civilisation she will have given a bond of peace that will not go forth to devastate the world, she will have something at home that will give a hostage for her conduct to the civilised world. A country cannot become great, and rich, and powerf ul , and remain still a barbarous and dreaded nation. Lord Aberdeen knows what those foolish people who shout for war at our pub lic meetings do not know. He knows all the dangers and vicissitudes that spring out of war. He knows that when a war is once begun, the beginning of strife is like the letting out of water. He knows that scarcely in an instance on record has the end of a war answered the purpose of its beginning. It 'may appear to be some what of levity to use such a simile, but I compare it to a person leading off in a ball ; he knows whose partner he is when he begins, but does not know who will be his partner at the end of the dance. Lord Aberdeen knows that at the beginning of the great French war in 1793 we had every government in Europe with us, and he knows that in ten years afterwards we had almost every government in Europe against us. H knows that the very subsidies we granted to our allies on the Con tinent were converted into ammunition and accoutre ments, and used in opposition to ourselves. Lord Aber deen knows that when war had existed for six or twelve months, the silly people who now cry out for war will be the first to turn about and denounce him for having brought distress and suffering upon them. He knows very well that if he accedes to their hostile shout and enters into a war against Russia, that it ceases to be a war between two semi-barbarians in an almost inacces umes European dimensions, and insurrection, and pro• ,t part of Europe. I Q speech much resembled 3 ..e also objected the Eas He wished the .emselves on the question to LAW INTELLIGENCE. BAIL COURT.-JAN. 25. EX PARTE CALDWELL-HABEAS CORPUS. Mr. Parry moved for a rule nisi for a habeas corpus to bring up the body of the daughter, aged four years, •f Joseph Caldwell, on whose behalf he applied. It ap peared from the affidavits that the child had been taken from his custody by his wife and her mother. On the 20th June, 1852, he was residing with his wife and child, and being about to leave home to attend a mar ket, he shook hands with his wife, who seemed to be on friendly terms with him, but during his absence she left the house, taking the child with her. This was the fifth time she had left him since their marriage, in April, 1849, without any lawful excuse. He stated that he did not know where she now lived, although he believed that she was induced to remain away from him by im proper influence, and was cohabiting with some other person to him unknown. His wife had taken from him at different times money, amounting altogether to 2001. He was anxious to have his child returned to him, as he was afraid her prospects would be injured by her being kept from him. The learned judge granted a rule nisi. EX PARTE CHARLES HARRISON IN RE THE INHABITANTS OF TREVIN, WILTS. case with a serious judgment, and he therefore pro nounced a judgment of 14 calendar months. IN RE GEORGE LE CREU. In this case Mr. Dowse opposed, and took an objec tion to the petition. The insolvent had an office in Copthall-court, which he took as a stock and share broker. He dated his letters from that place, but had omitted it in his schedule. He had petitioned as a non trader, and should have petitioned as a trader owing more than 3001. The court ordered the petition to be dismissed. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. Mr. Scotland moved for a rule for a mandamus, com manding the surveyors of Trevin to pay to Charles Harrison the costs of a proceeding instituted to compel the inhabitants of Trevin to repair a highway. It was admitted that 721. Bs. was due to him, and an order had been made for its payment ; but the answer was that there were no funds. He applied under the 95th section of the sth and 6th Wm. IV. c. 50, which provided that the surveyors should pay costs of this description out of a rate to be levied in pursuance of that act. Rule nisi granted. COURT OF COMMON PLEAS. ALLSOP V. BRITTAIN.-INTERPLEADEE ISSUE. This was an interpleader issue, directed to try whether certain property seized by the sheriff on an execution against James Johnson belonged to the plaintiff. The property was seized at a coffee house in Blackfriars road. At the trial before Mr. Justice Talfourd, at the last sittings for Middlesex, the jury found for the plain tiff as to all that part of the furniture which she pos sessed when she left Chelsea, and for the defendant as to the rest. Upon this finding, his lordship gave the defendant leave to move to enter the verdict for himself. MANSION-HOUSE.-- William Crake, a man about 50 years of age, was brought before the Lord Mayor, by Brett, a detective officer, upon a charge of obtaining by false pretences various small sums of money from his employer, Mr. J. Walker, corrugated iron manufacturer, Arthur-street West. Mr. R. Stapp stated that he was clerk to the prose cutor, who was at present completing a contract at Gravesend, and that the prisoner was there employed as superintendent of the works, one of his duties being to pay the workmen their wages. On the 6th instant, the witness, having received from the prisoner a written statement of wages which he alleged to be due to the workmen, on the following day he sent by a clerk, named Leary, 20/., for the purpose of paying them. Mr. W. Leary, clerk to the prosecutor, proved that he received 201. from the last witness, which he handed over to the prisoner at Gravesend, in accordance with the written statement forwarded by him to the rosecutor. W. Hotchkiss, foreman of the prosecutor's works at Gravesend, stated that his wages for the week ending the 7th instant amounted to 335., and that the prisoner had only paid him 255. In answer to a question by the Lord Mayor, the pro secutor stated that if the prisoner was remanded for a few days he had no doubt that he should have fresh cases of fraud to bring against him. The Lord Mayor said he should remand the prisoner till Monday, but would accept bail for his appearance, himself in 1001., and two sureties of 50/. each, with twenty-four hours' notice. Richard Nash, head cellarman to Mr. Garrett, wine merchant, Old Jewry, was placed at the bar on a charge of stealing two bottles of pale brandy belonging to his master. It appeared from the evidence of Webb and Bassett, two detective officers, that as they were walking in King William-street last night they noticed that the prisoner's pockets were very bulky. After following him a short distance, they asked him what he had in them, when he replied nothing. He, however, soon afterwards admitted that he had stolen two bottles of brandy, and begged to be allowed to go. The property was identified by one of Mr. Garrett's clerks. The Lord Mayor sentenced the prisoner two months' imprisonment with hard labour. Mr. Parry now moved pursuant to this leave, and submitted that the plaintiff had not made out her case that all the property was her's, and therefore the de fendant was entitled to the verdict. At all events, it was contended that there must be a new trial, for the finding of the jury furnished the court with no means of saying for what amount a verdict for the plaintiff should be entered, for they could not know the value of the furniture possessed by the plaintiff at Chelsea. The court granted a rule nisi for a new trial. GUILDHALL.—Wm. Saunders Couch, a buyer in the employ of Messrs. Waterlow, of London-wall, was brought up charged with the following robbery. Mr. Sidney Hedley Waterlow said the prisoner was in his and his brother's employ, and it was a part of his duty to check the petty cash and certify the correctness of the entries therein, but in other respects he acted generally as their buyer. In consequence of certain entries in the petty cash that we could not understand we discovered that the prisoner had been abstracting money from the till and falsifying the entries in the petty cash, and on being accused of it he admitted his guilt. Mr. Alfred James Waterlow produced the petty cash book, and referred to an entry dated "Oct. 13th, 1853 —freight paid per Marlborough, 4/. 3s. 6d.," to which was attached the prisoner's initials certifying the accu racy of the item. No such payment had been paid by the prisoner or any one else on the prosecutors' account. There was another item, " Nov. Bth. Freight paid per Duck, 3/. 155., W. S. C." which payment was made by the prisoner for goods obtained of Messrs. Mordan and Co., of the City-road, in the prosecutors' names and shipped on his own account without their knowledge. Ho ordered them to be sent to the London Docks, and put his own name and mark upon them at the time of shipping them. The prosecutors had since paid Messrs. Mordan and Company for those goods. Witness asked prisoner to explain the items he had alluded to, but he only said, "he could not do it for it was very wrong, and the devil had tempted him to take the money." Witness could not tell the extent of the robbery, because the prisoner had a general authority to buy on their account to the amount of from 1,500/. to 2,0001. per month, and they had always paid every thing to his signature. Alderman Finnis said it was very important to the public as well as the prosecutors, that the case should be fully investigated, as the prisoner's depredations had been carried on in such a peculiar manner, and might extend to a much larger amount than the prosecutors appeared to expect. Mr. Waterlow said he asked the prisoner if, on re ceiving the remittance from abroad for the goods shipped on his own account, he intended to have handed it over to them, and his reply was that he did not. Mr. Sidney H. Waterlow said he hoped the alder man would not allow the officers to search the prisoner's apartments as his wife was on the eve of her confine ment, unnecessarily,re ar a ct yrndoftihr Finnicwereorg tt e.o b a y. i n e udt u hn s nde sohttheebsrhee prosecutorsvl d e ntohte hadbr ee wawas harassedevinced any d much kind consideration for the prisoner, but they must not allow their sympathy to interfere with the duty they owed to society, and whatever search might be deemed requisite by the officers, the prosecutors might rely upon its being conducted with all the delicacy due to the situation of the unfortuuate wife of the prisoner. The prisoner was then remanded. BO W-STREET.—Michael Orragon, driver of the Westminster omnibus 7,014, and Joseph Waddell, driver of the Royal Blue No. 6,973 were summoned before Mr. Henry for furious driving. The charge was preferred by the Rev. Mr. Randolph, of Coulsden Rectory, Surrey, who stated that he was the only inside passenger of the first defendant's omni bus on Saturday afternoon last, when, on reaching the Strand, he drove on his horses at such a furious pace as to excite considerable apprehension in his mind of some dangerous result. He soon perceived that the secosd defendant was endeavouring to pass Orragon, and both were proceeding at the rate of about twelve miles an hour. Not liking to remain in the omnibus under the circumstances, witness desired the conductor to put him out, and the vehicle was stopped in a few seconds for that purpose. At the same moment witness ob served that the other defendant's omnibus was brought to a stand also, and from the number of persons who assembled near it, witness had reason to believe that some accident had occurred. The defendants were represented by Mr. Wontner, but Orragon admitted that Waddell was attempting to pass him, although both disputed the pace. Mr. Henry, after thanking the rev, complainant for the trouble which he had taken in the matter on public grounds, fined the defendants respectively 30s. and 405., and costs. SOUTH WARK.— /ohm, Finigin was oharged with cruelly beating Ellen Finigin, his wife. The complainant, a middle-aged female, whose features were scarcely discernible from the lacerated and swollen state of her face, said that she had been married to the prisoner about four years, and had two children by him. They resided in Chapel-court, High-street, South wark, and until within these last twelve months they lived very comfortable. On the previous day he went out to work, and between 12 and 1 that morning he re turned home drunk, and immediately commenced abusing her. She, however, took no notice of him, but placed before him his supper, and sat down. He then abused her again, and struck her a violent blow across the face with the back of his hand, which caused blood to flow. She then attempted to make her escape by the door, but he jumped up and locked it. He then knocked her down, and kicked her over the head and body until she became insensible. Had not some of the lodgers called the police she believed he would have murdered her. _ _ Mr. Combe—h as your husband ever beat you before ? Complainant —Oh yes, sir, frequently ; but I did not like to complain, as I thought he would alter. Defendant—f am a paste-board maker, and hard work it is. I worked late last night, and when I returned home and had my supper she commenced abusing me, saying that I kept company with prostitutes, and had been to the theatre with one. That so exasperated me that I hardly know what I did. Complainant denied abusing or exasperating her hus band. On Monday she dressed herself to go to the theatre with him, when he suddenly changed his mind and refused to take her, stating that she was not fine enough for him, and there were other women better looking. She merely told him she did not want to quarrel, when he knocked her down and beat her in that cruel manner. She could not get away from him, as he locked the door. Her face was scratched, both eyes blackened, and her thighs and body were covered with bruises. The prisoner, who began to fear the result of his cowardly violence towards his unoffending wife, here said that he was quite willing to allow her a separate maintenance if the charge was withdrawn. Mr. Combo --What, after you have nearly murdered her ? No, you must suffer six months' hard labour in the House of Correction before you can talk of that. Prisoner—l hope you will not send me there, your worship. What will become of my children ? Mr. Combo—You are a worthless cowardly fellow, and I sentence you to six months hard labour. Your wife and children will be taken care of. THE REPRESENTATION OF CHATHAM.—The Liberal portion of the electors of Chatham have invited Admiral Sir James Stirling, the newly-appointed commander-in chief on the India and China station, to a public dinner, which is to take place to-morrow evening. Sir James contested unsuccessfully the borough at the last election, and was to have been again brought forward in the event of Captain Vernon being found not to be duly returned. Mr. Romaine is now named as the Liberal candidate [ADVEII '''''''''''''''''''''' Ointment and Pills, certain remedies for old sores and ulcers.—Copy of a letter from Mr. John Johnson, of Tregaron, Wales, dated Dec. 19, 1853.—T0 Professor Holloway, Sir, — For twelve years I was afflicted with sores on my legs and arms, which gradually broke out into ulcerous wounds and disabled me from following any of the active duties of life. I tried a variety of medicines and applied several liniments without benefit, but a friend recommended me to use your Ointment and Pills, which completely healed the wounds and restored me to health after every other means had failed.—Sold by all Druggists, and at Professor Holloway's Establishment, 244, Strand, London. UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE AND THE BALLOT IN GENE VA.-LETTER 11. (Front the Norfolk News.) SlR,—Permit me to resume, in this communication, the topic to which my last letter referred. I endea voured, in that letter, to give your readers some idea of a Genevese election by universal suffrage and by ballot; and to show that democratic institutions work, in seve- ral respects at least, more smoothly here than our sys tem of restricted and open voting works in England. I think this point is fully established. And if such be the fact—if it be indeed true that universal suffrage and vote by ballot tend more than any other electoral ma chinery to give a true, a deliberate, an uncorrupt, and a patriotic expression of public opinion, whether tried on a small scale at Geneva, or on a gigantic scale in Ame rica, it cannot be unimportant or uninteresting for Eng lishmen, now engaged in plans of reform, to consider well this fact, and the evidence by which it is supported. But it will be said again and again—ls it safe to make every man a voter? Will you trust the fortunes of the State to the idle, the ignorant, and the criminal part of the population? The answer is obvious. Universal suffrage, though it emancipates the dregs of the population, and thus does much to better both their moral and material condition, does not give them, while they remain dregs„ any atom of political power. On the contrary, it deprives them of their only force, the force of discontent, by removing every inequality, and thus removing every real cause of complaint ; while it drowns the voice of the dangerous part of the people in that of the majority. If, indeed, the majority be dangerous, the democratic system will not prevent ruin. But neither will any other system : least of all the despotic, which leads inevitably to revo lution, and thus to the most destructive :form of demo cracy. Every representative system supposes what is borne out by every page of history, that public opinion is the best and safest basis of government ; and the only question that remains is, whether the voice of the majo rity is the true expression of public opinion. I think that all the evidence is in favour of this conclusion. Universal suffrage and the ballot-box have always given utterance to the predominant opinion of the place where, and of the time when, they were employed, not to the ignorance of this, or the prejudice of that section of the community. And by predominant opinion, I mean not the opinion of mere numbers, but the opinion of what ever is strongest in the country—of wealth, of intelli gence, of enterprise, of public spirit, of all that goes to make a nation powerful, prosperous, and respected. Public opinion, indeed, is not always in the right, but it is more likely to be so than the private notions of an aristocracy, or of an autocrat. It is for practical pur poses the best opinion, and universal suffrage by secret voting is the best way by which this opinion can be dis covered and declared. Such is the conclusion which I think would he de duced by every impartial observer of the working of complete representation in Geneva. And there are some reasons why the example of this Canton may be especially worthy of note. When the advantages of the American electoral system are quoted, the answer is always ready :—Oh ! America is a very large country, a very new country, a country without an Established Church, and without an aristocracy. Now, Geneva is the very opposite of all this. It is a very small country --it is an old country, quite as old as England, it has an aristocracy and an Established Church. It c?tnnot, indeed, be compared with England in many particulars ; and no doubt ingenious objectors will be found to urge that, though universal suffrage and the ballot may be safe for a very big nation like America, and for a very diminutive nation like Geneva, they may be quite unfit for a moderate sized nation like that of Great Britain and Ireland. I shall content myself with the observa tion that what has been found to suit the largest and the least commonwealth, is not very likely to be unsuit able to a commonwealth just half way between the two, and then proceed to establish the case, so far relates to the miniature republic wherein it has been of late my lot to dwell. I have spoken of the election ; of an election without noise—without drunkenness—without any notorious bribery or intimidation ;—of an election which has satis fied not only the Ultra-democrats, but the Conservatives also :—of an election which, beyond all doubt, is the national voice :—of an election in which the victors con quered, and the beaten yielded with dignity :—of an election, in short, such as an election should be, and as different as possible from what it too often is in Eng land. It only remains for me to show that the new in stitutions work well, not merely in electoral crises, but in the every-day affairs of the State. A glance at the general appearance of Geneva will suffice for this pur pose. Look first at the rural districts. When the traveller, after a weary journey in a French diligence, through a comparatively uninteresting country, at last reaches the top of the Jura, and, suddenly, turning a corner, sees at a glance the whole of the Canton at his feet, he beholds, indeed, what no forms of Government can give or take away. The blue lake, and the everlasting mountains which are round about it, would make the situation of Geneva a paradise—though Geneva had never been, though man had never tradden this happy valley. But, besides the indescribable beauty of a landscape, almost unparalleled on earth for loviiness and grandeur, there are features which impart a human interest to the scene. The whole region is a garden. The road is everywhere embowered with trees which stand in the hedgerows of fields, rich by nature, more rich by cultivation. But what is this, half-mansion, half-cottage, which stands by the road side, covered with clustering rose bushes, and peeping through the shrubs of a well-ordered pleasure ground, where apple-trees and acacias, cabbages, and choice flowers, a charming medley of use and ornament, strive together for the mastery ? Is it a philosopher's hermitage ? Is it a lover's Elysium ? Is it a refined citizen's retreat ? Is it the realization of a poet's dream ? It can hardly be any of these, for lo ! here is another and another. The whole country is thickly studded with them. There are the farmers' houses, standing but a few hundred yards apart from each other. This fact alone is conclusive in favour of the prosperity, moral and material, of the district ; for it is a rule without exception that the land_ is a good land where the soil is moderately subdivided, and where there is a numerous and wealthy middle class of proprietors. In such a land, though of course, some poor will even here be always found, no artificial, no excessive, no irremediable poverty will exist. Where there are many substantial yeomen there will al ways be employmentfor the laborer ; and where the able bodied labourer is sure of employment, the casual pau perism, resulting from sickness or old age, finds an ade quate resource in the benevolence of the neighbourhood. Such seems to be the case in the rural district of Geneva. The population is healthy and happy-looking. No wretchedness, no beggars, no union-houses are to be seen. Moreover, the neatness of the buildings, the goodness of the roads, the decent attire of all classes, and the decorated air of the whole scene are unmis takeable indications of something better than merely a sufficiency of food, drink, and clothing. It is impossi ble to walk ten yards in the Canton without feeling a persuasion, which sub sequen t i nves ti ga ti on w ill abun dantly confirm, that the people are educated and intelli gent in no common degree. The town is worthy to be the metropolis of such a district, in all respects but one. It has every merit but that of beauty. Perhaps no city, except Naples and Constantinople, enjoys a finer site ; but, certainly, no city has turned a good position to such poor account. Those, however, who deem the interests of humanity more valuable than scenic effect, will pardon Geneva her narrow streets, her mean public buildings, and even the perverted ingenuity by which her architects have contrived to exclude almost all view of the lake. "Hand some is that handsome does," as we say in England, and certainly the good doings of Geneva abundantly ex cuse her want of good looks. Work ! work ! every where. The town seems the very temple of industry. Masons, carpenters, and painters by hundreds, and all busy : new mansions, new hotels, new quays, new churches, new hospitals, new roads, in short, a new town outside the old one : within the usual allowance of shop-keeping in general, and more than the usual allow ance of Watchmaking in particular. Horology is the staple of Geneva, and this branch of trade has never been in so prosperous a state. The manufacturers, I under stand, cannot execute all the orders they receive. As might be expected, therefore, the town wears a cheerful appearance. One singularity, occasioned by the abun dance of employment and good wages, of Geneva is, an extraordinary proportion of young people, drawn thither from all the surrounding country. All, however, whe ther young or old, seem to be usefully end happily em ployed ; all look as though they were able to earn a fair day's wages for a fair day's work. There is no misery, no mendicancy. And, best of all, there is, on every hand, evidence of an educated, a moral, an intelligent, and an independent population. There is obviously con fidence, for capital abounds and trade flourishes : and confidence supposes order, and order in a democracy supposes, at least, good sense, good teaching, and good habits, as well as good victuals and good clothes. Such is the external aspect of Geneva, town and country. But it may be said, all this is rose-coloured ; are therelno darker shades to the picture? I answer, none for which democracy is answerable. It is quite true that all is not gold that glitters even at Geneva. The Genevese, though inhabiting a paradise, are not angels. They are mere men, and where man is there are also sin, sorrow, and deformity. I have already mentioned the prevalence of party spirit and religious rivalry ; and, no doubt, other defects will appear on a close inspection. But these are common to the human race, and ought not to rob the little Republic of her claim to be considered one of the happiest spots upon the earth. I was, at first, indeed, a little mystified on hearing one or two of the Conservative citizens croak about the fortunes of the state ; but I was re-assured when I recollected that croaking is one of the privileges of freedom. Does not Jonathan tell us that his Con federation is on the very eve of disruption ? and has not England been ruined three times over within our own days ? The truth is, that a free man considers himself free to grumble ; and Geneva would not have risen to all the advantages of her high position if she were not to indulge, now and then, in imaginary com plaints and fears. It can be hardly necessary to say that I do not attri bute all the moral and commercial prosperity of Geneva to universa, euffrage and vote by ballot. It is enough for my purpose that the welfare of the people is com patible with, is promoted by, a complete system of repre sentation. That this is the case is proved by the single fact, that, since the revolution, the Canton has advanced considerably both in agriculture and commerce, while it certainly has not declined in any of those more impor tent particulars on which its ancient reputation was founded. If democracy, therefore, has not done all, it has done something for Geneva. It has, at least, made 1 all the citizens equal before the law, and that is much.— ' I am, Sir, one who was lately, and who hopes 'again soon to be, A NORWICH-MAN AT GENEVA, Milan, 2d January, Mc . sible se, senOs conflict asst an. ~ , . Ak e c olirtsion . op,- ;. .... :,... - _ At 4 . : 177 . 4 . ' A bitlit t * ^c:.: .'C ' . , e ~.... ~,.. , ~./ . ... , • . , . 4 ..4 N 440 ~ -,,.,. .~ ~s COURT OF EXCHEQUER. The court sat in banco to-day, and disposed of three demurrers, neither of which, however, presented any feature of general interest. (Sittings at Nisi Prius before Mr. Baron Platt and .... common juries.) CREED AND WIFE V. RIGBY.-NEGLIGENCE. Mr. Edwin James and Mr. Charles Pollock were counsel for the plaintiffs ; Mr. Hawkins and Mr. Mil ward represented the defendants. This was an action to recover compensation for in juries inflicted on the female plaintiff by reason of the negligence of the defendants, It appeared that the plaintiffs were tenants of a house in America-square, Minories, which they had taken from the Black wall Railway Company, who had employed the defendants, the well-known contractors at Millbank, to whitewash and plaster the ceilings. One of the workmen thus employed removed from its position a gas bracket, and the result was that on Mrs. Creed entering the room with a lighted candle an explosion of the escaped gas took place, by which she was seriously injured, having been much burnt in the face and also in the right hand, the use of which she has not since recovered, so that she was compelled to keep her bed for six weeks. The defence relied upon was the defendants were not liable, as they had not done the work, but it had been done by the servant of a party who had contracted under them, and that it was not the duty of that perssn to have executed the repairs as they had done. Several witnesses on both sides having been examined, Mr. Baron Platt summed up, and The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiffs—da mages, 2501. The learned judge then gave leave to the defendant to enter a nonsuit subject to the opinion of the court above on a point of law. COURT OF BANKRUPTCY. (Before Mr. Commissioner Goulburn.) IN RE HENSLEY-MINING SPECULATIONS. The bankrupt, F. J. Hensley, was described as an apothecary of Montagu-place, Russell-square. This was the meeting for the last examination. Mr. Pennell, the official assignee, reported that the bankrupt commenced his account on 31st December, 1849, with a balance in his favour of 1,7401. He now owed to unsecured creditors, 4,043/. ; to those holding security, 6,4941. (the securities being valued at 3,2511.); liabilities on bills of exchange, 1,0031. His profits RS an apothecary had been 1,289/. ; dividends received on mining shares, 2241. The assets, consisting of debts and mining shares, were returned at 1,068/. ; property settled on his wife in September, 1850, 1,3501. The expenses of various kinds, including 9971. for interest and discount, amounted to 3,267/. ; losses from speculations in milling shares, 4,7251. ; ditto from bad debts, 121/. ; liabilities for which no consideration had been received, 1,0031. The bankrupt's present position was entirely attributable to his speculations in mining shares. His transactions in them had been very extensive, amounting to the sum of 33,1501., and resulting in a clear loss of 4,7241. His professional accounts had been kept with great accuracy ; the expenses were corroborated by the books ; the share accounts, law costs, interest, discount, and commission accounts, were to a great extent corroborated by the banker's book. There were no trade creditors. It was difficult to form any opinion as to the amount of assets, the property consisting, with the exception of book debts, entirely of mining shares, the value of which was very uncertain. Mr. Cooper, for the assignees, offered no opposition, and the bankrupt passed. IN BE SEAGRINE.--- CASE OF THE LATE lINDER•SHERIFF FOR HAMPSHIRE. There was a dividend meeting in the case of Charles Seagrim, solicitor, (made bankrupt as a gas manufac turer) of Winchester. The accounts have not been filed, but the liabilities are understood to be large. A number of proofs and claims to prove were tendered by various parties, represented by counsel and attorneys, but the majority of them were adjourned for further considera tion. None of them involved any point of interest, ex cept a claim preferred by Mr. Woodhams, a former part ner of the bankrupt, who had acted as steward and re ceiver of rents for Lady Mildmay, and who sought to prove for upwards of 9001., which it was alleg&1 the bankrupt had received on Lady Mildmay's account, and which had been paid to her ladyship by Mr. Woodhams. From the examination of the bankrupt it appeared that there were disputed accounts between himself and his late partner, who he asserted, was not a creditor, but a debtor for between 2,0001. and 3,000/. His Honour said it was clear the proof could not be admitted, nor did he think he could admit a claim, the account of Mr. Woodhams having only been tendered at the last moment, five o'clock on the preceding after noon. He was unwilling to reject the claim altogether, but would adjourn the dividend meeting, at the cost of the claimant, for the purpose of investigation. Mr. Cooke, Mr. Bagley, and Mr. Lawrance repre sented the different parties in the case. (Before Mr. Commissioner Fonblanque.) IN RE JAMES PALMER. The bankrupt, a builder at Hove, Brighton, applied for his certificate. The accounts, prepared by Mr. Pettis, commence in January, 1852, with a capital of 2931., and terminate in August, 1853, with unsecured debts, 3,965/. ; secured ditto, 8,0651. ; liabilities, I,it6/. The assets were returned in good debts, SW. ; property given up, 1451. ; ditto held by creditors, 12,9601. The profits had been 2,7571. ; trade and per sonal expenses, about 9061. Mr. Bagley supported ; there was no opposition. His Honour granted a second class certificate. INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT. IN BE MATTHEW NOTTINGHAM. This insolvent, agent to the Caledonian Tube Com pany, whose case was reported on Tuesday, again came up. The accounts were stated to be satisfactory, and an immediate discharge was pronounced. IN RE JAMES TERRY. The insolvent was a baker at Plumstead. He applied to be discharged, and was opposed by Mr. Sargood for Mr. Hills, a miller ; and Mr. Reed supported. The insolvent supplied the Greenwich Union, and lost by the contract. Mr. Hills supplied flour, and was to be paid in monthly sums ; he was paid, except the last 1161., and he resisted the payment to him, and made an assignment for his creditors, and as Mr. Hills refused to execute it, the money was paid into court. The Chief Commissioner considered that Mr. Hills had been unfairly treated, and gave judgment of six months from the vesting order. IN THE MATTER OF JOHN •BAIAISE. This insolvent, who described himself as a dealer in mining and other shares, was opposed by Mr. Sargood, for three creditors named Smith, Oliver, and Robinson. The insolvent lived in Grove-lane, Camberwell, in a house which belonged with the furniture to his father in-law. The insolvent owed Mr. Smith, who is a grocer at Camberwell, about 241. for goods, and took him a bill of exchange for 471., which he said was as good as the Bank of England, ad given by a Mr. Clogg, of Cornwall, who owed him money. Mr. Smith gave him the difference, and Mr. Clogg, who was examined, stated that it was an accommodation bill accepted, to be discounted to pay some calls on shares. It would be paid. Mr. Oliver was a sharebroker, and had been em ployed by the insolvent in seine transactions, and was a loser. The insolvent represented that he had some Liberty shares, which were of value. Mr. Robinson was an attorney, and the insolvent had employed him about a patent, and incurred a debt of 201. He vaunted that he had property, but it turned out that he had not, but had been a bankrupt in 1846. Mr. Commissioner Murphy held that the debts had been contracted in a manner little short of swindling, and he regretted to see a person who could have main• tained a position in society going about in a systematic course, alleging that he had property, and contracting debts, as he had done. He was bound to mark such a NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. PORTSMOUTH, JAN. 25. The utmost activity prevails in every department of this dockyard and its dependencies, and the Royal Clarence victualling establishment, Gosport, under the superintendence of Captain Courtenay, is in full work, baking and storing provisions for the fleet. The Caesar, 91, screw, Captain John Robb, hoisted his pendant on a spar, this day, at three p.m., and hung it over the taffrail. Tne repairs of the Geyser, 6, paddle-wheel steam sloop, are suspended for the present, hands being wanted upon the Colossus, 80, to be docked in her room to morrow. The Geyser's timbers have been found so de fective in many important places, it is questionable whether she will be refitted. _ _ The Simoom, troop-ship, will be out of the hands of the shipwrights in a few days ; the engineer department will require a longer period, as her boilers are being strengthened, and she is undergoing an extensive repair in her steam machinery. Everything is being done to hasten the equipment of the Ciesar, 91. Her machinery is for the most part fitted, her fore and mizen masts are ready, and ship wrights are busy on her external fitments. The Basilisk, 6, paddle-wheel steam-sloop, Commander the Hon. F. Egerton, is nearly completed in her machi nery by the engineer department of the dockyard, and will be removed in a few days from the factory basin. The Frolic, 16, Commander Nolloth, sails this evening for Australia. PLYMOUTH, JAN. 25. Her Majesty's ship Nile, 90, having been fitted with a screw propeller, will be taken out of dock on Monday, the 30th inst. The steam-vessel Magicienne, having had her defects made good, will go out of harbour on Thursday. PEMBROKE, JAN. 25. The new steam-yacht the Windsor Castle is to be com pleted in 6 months from the present time, and in order to accomplish this, a large force will constantly be em ployed upon her. She is from 20 to 30 feet longer than the largest three-decker in the navy—viz., the Duke of Wellington. Six apprentices have been ordered to be entered at the commencement of the year ; and the new clothing about to be issued to the Royal Dockyard battalion will in future only be issued to those who are between the ages of 18 and 45, as orders have been issued for a re turn of all such in the brigade between those ages. This measure is to render the battalion more effective, by enabling those beyond the age of 45 to retire, leav ing their places to be filled by junior, and perhaps more active men. Mr. George Chiles, from Chatham, has been appointed storekeeper, vice the late Mr. Lawes. Speculation has been busy respecting the probably successor to the captain-superintendent, Sir Thomas Pasley, Bart., whose period of office expires in a few months. WOOLWICH, JAIL 25. APPOINTMENTS. Lieutenants—Thomas L. Ward (1853), recently pro moted from mate of the Excellent gunnery-ship at Portsmouth, is re-appointed to his rank of Lieutenant to that ship. The Hon. Frederick 0. B. Fitzmaurice (1852), recently serving in the Magicienne, 16, paddle wheel steam-frigate, to the Bulldog paddle-wheel steam sloop, at Portsmouth. Master's-Assistant—Richard N. Tarraway, to the Blenheim, 60, screw steam-guard ship, at Portsmouth. The Promethus steam-sloop, now ready for sea at this port, is placed under orders to be taken round to Devon port, where she is to remain as an advanced war steamer at that naval station. Lieut. Robert Robertson, of the steam reserve here, will take the charge of her to Devon port, and she will be navigated by Master-Commander Henry William Allan, of the Lightning, with a portion of the crew of that vessel, and others from the Fisgard flag-ship, and Medea steam-sloop, the services of the whole of the seamen-riggers that can be spared from this dockyard being required to assist at the launch of the Hannibal, 90, screw steam-ship, at Deptford Dockyard, on the 31st inst. _ _ _ The Lightning steam-vessel has been taken into dock to have some necessary alterations made to convert her into a tug vessel, for service on the West India station, for which destination she is being fitted. It has been communicated to the young men in the factory at this dockyard, that any of them desirous of entering the Royal Navy as third-class assistant-engi neers will be accepted, if under 28 years of age, on their passing the necessary examination as to their qualifica tions for that service. THE MEDICAL OFFICERS OF THE NAVY.—Five ships have been commissioned within the last five or six days, five of them line-of-battle ships, but no medical officer has yet been appointed to either of them. There are 320 surgeons on the active list of the Royal Navy, of whom about 186 are employed in ships and steamers, or in dock yards, victualling-yards, and convict stations ; but surely there can be no difficulty in obtaining candidates of that rank out of the remaining 133 now on half-pay. There is less reason for surprise that no assistant-surgeons have been appointed to these ships and war steamers, as, on referring to the active list of that rank in the Royal Navy, there are none available. Every assistant-surgeon fit for service, is actually employed, and there are very few, if any, candidates. TIRE ARMY. SOUTH-WEST DlSTRio'.—•The remainder of the 20th Foot leave Winchester by railway this morning (Thurs day) for Plymouth. The 35th Foot is expected to move from Portsmouth to Chatham to embark for India in May. The 2d battalion of the Coldstream Guards, at Chichester Barracks, has been instructed in great gun drill by the Royal Artillery. It is stated that this bat talion of Foot Guards will exchange to Winchester Bar racks. First-class Staff-Surgeon Forrest, M.D., has been appointed to Portsmouth, vice Whyte, M.D., re moved to Van Diemen's Land. NEW SUMJLER TRoUSERS FOR THE INFANTRY.—The texture of these trousers is the same as of those hitherto in use, the colour only being changed to dark blue, with a red stripe down the seam. SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. QUARANTINE NOTICE. Sir,—The Board of Health, by an order of 11th inst., in the Diario of the 13th do., declares Vigo to be infected with cholera. (Signed) CHARLES JAIINCEY, Lloyd's Agent. Capt. G. A. Halsted, R.N., Secretary, Lloyd's. CUSTOM HOUSE, JAN. 25. ENTERED INWARDS.—The Alma and Olga, from Foo Chow Foo •, London Packet, St. Michael's ; Dora, St. Michael's ; Ruby, Seville ; John Arthur, Dantzic ; Ravens bourne, Antwerp; Ascension, Matanzas; Superb, Dun kirk ; Juffer Grielje, Groningen : Julia Howard, Phila delphia ; Moselle, Ostend ; Meteor, Mauritius and Cape of Good Hope ; Sea Bird, Memel ; Yldefonsa, Bilboa ; Gui don Rebow, Terceira ; Roxburgh Castle, Port Phillip, Cape of Good Hope, and St. St. Helena ; Comercianto, Bilboa. _ _ ENTERED OUTWARDS FOR LOADING.—The Rhine, for Antwerp ; Denmark, Antwerp • Pauline, Cape of Good Hope ; Hudson, Algoa Bay ; golland, Rotterdam ; Age noria, Delize. CLEARED OUTWARDS WITH CARGO --The Christiana, for New York ; Pauline, Caen ; Favourite, Seville ; Cecila Louise, Buenos Ayres ; Ocean Queen, Trieste ; Templar, Antwerp ; Friendship, Antwerp ; Menai, Calais ; City of Rotterdam, Dunkirk ; James and Emma, Caen. LIVERPOOL, JAN. 25. The Catherine O'Flanagan, from Cardiff, has been driven on shore in Dundrum Bay, without any person on board. The Templeman, Ellis, from Valparaiso, experienced a succession of heavy gales from N.W. to S.W., with much lightning, and upon the edge of soundings, and in the Channel, passed a large number of outward bound ships. The Stranger, for Africa, has put back to-day. She got as far as Lambay Island, and stood again cross Channel, wind W. to S.S. W., strong gale, and clear and cloudy at times. On Saturday, at 10.30 a.m., Holyhead bearing S. 15 miles distant, saw Indian Queen ship, hence to Mel bourne. The Duke of Wellington, also for Africa, with loss of maintopmast and main yard, and the Icarus, for Surinam, have put back. The Tit Bit, from Lisbon, reported ashore on the Horse Bank, Jan. 23, was still aground this morning, with a steam-tug alongside. She is inside the Bank, near the en trance of Bugs Hole. The Swordfish, Cobb, from Pernambuco, at this port, sailed on the 21th ult. The Lady Octavia, from the Clyde ; Louisa, for Trieste ; Linda and Pauline, for Genoa ; and Runnymede and Bertha, for the Channel, were to sail the same day ; and the Emma, for Liverpool, Dec. 29. The John H. Jarvis, from New Orleans, for this port, has put into Ramsay Bay. The Juliana, from Santander, at this port, with loss of jibboom, &c. The Prince (s) arrived from Dublin this morning, with 223 of the surviving passengers of the Tayleur. The Victory steam-tug arrived from Dublin last nights, with goods from the Scotland, ashore in Dublin Bay. ANTWERP, Jan. 24.—The Marie, from Odessa to Ams terdam, has been assisted into Terschelling, with damage, The James Corner, from Baltimore to Marseilles, with to bacco, flour, salt meat, and staves, was stranded on the Etinaus Bank, off the mouths of the Rhone, and has been abandoned by the crew. ODESSA, Jan. 3.—The Patriot, in ballast, on shore at the mouth of the Dneister, 7th Nov. last, was got off and I brought into this port 10th Jan. HASTINGS, Jan. 24.—The Ann, of Poole, came on shore this morning at Hooks Point, three miles to the eastward of Hastings, and is being discharged by the Coast Guard. GIBRALTAR, Jan. 16.—The wind was east for a short time on the 14th, and it is supposed that very few of the windbound vessels, which sailed immediately, have suc ceeded in passing the Straits to the west. NICE, Nov. 30.—The Thalia Rogers, arrived from Bris tol, sailed thence Ist of Dec., put back after being out 21 days, and was still there 11th Jan., having completed her repairs. OPORTO, Jan. 17.—The Santissima Trinidade, Brazilian schooner, from Lisbon to Rio Grande, with salt, has been wrecked on the coast of Lagos, Portugal. LISBON, Jan. 19.—The Alice Maude, from Manila and Batavia, reported to be leaky, and with loss of sails, is at anchor inside Fort St. Julian, but the light winds and strong fresh breeso keep her below. BELFAST, Jan. 2 3 . —Th e Minerva, from Whiteh aven t o Dublin, whilst at anchor in the Lough, was ran into by i the Stag (s.) hence t o Dublin, and received co nsiderable damage. WARBENPOINT, Jan. 21.—The Catherine O'Flannagan, of and from Cardiff, was driven on shore in Dumdrum Bay, oa the 21st Jan., during a heavy gale from S.W. ; aban doned. HARWICH, Jan. 24.—The Keltie, from London to New castle has been assisted in here leaky, VESSELS SPOKEN WITH. The Yeoman, from Callao to London, Dec. 21, lat. 1 long. 21 W. No. 102 (Peruvian ship), from Callao to Liverpool, 8, lat. 33 N., long. 44 W. The Dorothea, from Monte Video to Liverpool, Jan. 9, lat. 35 N., long. 44 W. The Eva, from New Orleans for Liverpool, Dec. 17, lat. 26 N., long. 86 W. The N. G. Hiehborn, from New Orleans to Genoa, Dec. 15, lat. 32 N., long. 69 W. The Elbe, of and from Hamburg to the East Indies, Oct. 18, let. 1 N., long. 19 W. The Cato Henry, from Calcutta to Boston, Nov. 8, lat. 32, 8., long. 31 E. The Jenny Lind, Robinson, from Calcutta to Boston, Nov. 18, lat. 22, long. 1 W. A clipper ship, steering S., hull painted black, a white burgea, with name in it, Nov. 25, lat. 10 S.,long. 33 W. The Endeavour, o f S un d er land, Dec. 23, at. 37 N. long. 10 W. The Mary and Louisa, from Callao, Jan. 5, lat. 42 N., long. 11 W. The Louisa and Peterhoff, both bound W., Jan. 22, off Salters. The William Nicol, of London, Oct. 21, lat. 35 S., long. 89 W., with 900 barrels of sperm. STATE OF THE CASH ACCOUNT. Mr. E. H. Woolrych, the secretary, read the state of the cash account made up to yesterday, from which it appeared that on the 21st January there was a balance in hand of 47,1681. 2s. 3d. ; and, making allowance for the cheques drawn, but not presented, of 9,2831. 2s. Bd., there was left an available balance of 37,8841. 19s. 7d. The cheques drawn yesterday amounted to 2,680 t. 18s. 2d. DRAINAGE OF THE WANDLE DISTRICT. Mr. S. Gurney was summoned to show cause why he had not paid the sewers-rate made upon certain lands' and property in his possession at Beddington-corner, near Carshalton. A gentleman who attended for Mr. Gurney stated that since he had been summoned the rates had been paid, but he attended there on that occasion, on behalf of Mr. Gurney and other inhabitants of that neighbourhood, to know what the commissioners intended doing. Mr. Gur ney had lately been called upon by the Board of Health to clean out several ditches, and he thought it was very hard to continue paying, year after year, sewers-rat :,s from which he derived no benefit. He also wished to know whether the new sewer contemplated by the com missioners would take the main road, and if it did, would the occupiers of land near it be compelled to make branches at their own expense, or would the court do it for them ? The Chairman, having referred to the map of the district, said that there was no sewer within two miles of the place now complained of. In answer to the question as to when the new works would be commenced, Mr. Gurney could answer that quite as well as he could. All he could say was that the powers of the court were at present inadequate to make a large sewer in that neighbourhood, but they had pressed the importance.of the matter most strongly upon the attention of the Government, and he had nu doubt but that a measure for carrying out the main scheme of drainage would be introduced and carried at an early period of the forthcoming session. The parties complaining could perceive that the commissioners had not neglected the interests of the public, and that they had not failed in representing the bad state of matters in the various districts in the proper quarter. The new sewer to which reference had been made would be car ried down the main road, and all parties would have to carry their branch drains to it at their own expense. The complainant coolly came there and asked the court to expend at once 100,001. to 150,0001. in the construc tion of a new main drain, while the fact was that the whole of the extensive district of the Wandle only pro duced the small sum of 1,5001. a year—a sum the greater part of which was absorbed in the repairing and cle.ans ing of ditches and open sewers. It was idle to suppose that a 6d. rate would build new sewers. The SECRETARY stated that a great portion of the rates were expended in the construction of a new sewer at Garrett-lane, the Wandle had been lowered, and sewers were being made at Mitcham and also at Merton. The matter then dropped. _ Mr. James was summoned to show cause why he had neglected to pay the sums of 31. is. 10d. and 11.35. 5d., charged upon him for sewers-rate. _ _ The defendant stated that he considered that he was not liable to pay a single farthing, he deriving no bene fit from the Wandle, his land being much below its level. He thought it was a great pity that so many thousand acres of land should be flooded five or six times a year, when it could be remedied by an outlay of 1,0001., which one year's income would bring in. He might mention that many of the estates of the new land societies in that neighbourhood had this winter been covered to the ex tent of 12 inches with water, and that not on one occa sion, but on many. He would have no objection to pay the rates if he derived any benefit, for then his agricul tural land would become fit for building purposes. The CHAIRMAN said that considerable improvements were about to be made in that district, and ordered the rates to be paid. The court having received a recommendation of the general committee "as to requesting the Ordnance De partment to engrave the sewers and parochial boundaries on the metropolitan Ordnance surveys, and to electro type the sheets of the one-foot survey," ordered it to be adopted. Some other business having been transacted, the court adjourned. HEALTH OF LONDON DURING THE WEEK. ( From the Registrar-General's Report.) The Registrar-General reports that the health of Lon dim has experienced a favourable change. A milder atmosphere has reduced the deaths from 1,492, registered in the preceding week, to 1,190 in the week that ended on Saturday. A rise in mean temperature from 29 degs. in the last week of 1853, and 30.2 degs in the first week of the new year, to 37.5 degs. and 42'degs. in the last two weeks has been followed by a decrease in the mor tality of about 300. In the ten weeks corresponding to last week of the year 1814-53, the average number of deaths was 1,142, which raised ireptoigartiori to the increase of population, becomes 1,256. The return of last week gives a result less by 61 than the calculated amount. The deaths referred to diseases of the respiratory organs, exclusive of phthisis and hooping-cough, amount to 250, and those produced by zymytotic complaints are about the same number. Fatal cases of bronchitis have declined from 184 in the previous week to 133 in the last ; pneumonia from 114 to 75. The former complaint is less, but is still above the average ; the latter is now below it. Bronchitis existing in the chronic state in aged persons, and stimulated to increased activity by a fall in the temperature, continues its course when the atmosphere has become warmer ; the natural powers i n advanced life are nearly exhausted, and its mortality less rapidly declines. A different effect is observed in young persons liable to pneumonia and other acute diseases from exposure to cold ; when the cause is removed, its fatal consequences almost immediately cease. The following is the only case of cholera registered in the week—ln the sub-district of Camden-town, on 18th January, a woman, aged 64 yeats, " cholera (2 days)." Mr. Lance, deputy-registrar, remarks, that " the de ' ceased li ve d i n a well-drained and airy house, but was in of ah her r o n d s e a t a t n h t , s i o t a consequence e of excit e m o e n f t i , o t t e i p w e i r t a h o i n o e. a few days Last week the births of 845 boys and 855 girls, in all 1,700 children, were registered in London. In the nine corresponding weeks of the years 1845-53 the average numb reading h ebeginningiAghttetrohfowef ta of fe e 1,4 to bhybaeaasr barometer l om O eme e b t;e t e e r t r ro in n d a 2 decreased r r seo t y 6t week eine G d. r by ryweo Greenwich, wos h2i2c.9911.3,.68048mt1h. in.eia o. mean ai.nt T. tohh on the 15th ; increased to 30 . 05 in. by 9h. a.m. on the 1 18th ; continued at this reading throughout the day ; then decreased to 29 . 82 in. by 9h. p.m. on the 19th ; increased to 30 . 16 in. by 9h. a.m, on the 21st ; and de creased to 30 . 06 in. by the end of the week. The mean temperature of the week was 42 . 2 deg., which is 5.8 deg. above the average of the same week in 38 years. The mean daily temperature was above the average on every day of the week, except Thursday ; the excess was 6.2 deg., 10.3 deg., 8 . 6 deg., 71 deg. , and 8.5 deg. respec tivey on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. The highest temperature was 52'3 deg., on ' Friday ; the lowest was 39 . 1 deg., on Thursday. Th e mean dew-point temperature was 40 . 2 deg. The wind blew front the south. The mean temperature of the water of the Thames at Greenwich was 40 deg. o n ' Friday and Saturday the temperature of the Thames rose to 43 . 5 deg. ~~ ~~ SOUTH SEA. WHALERS. HONOLULU, Nov. 10.—Arrived—The Asia, of Havre, with 2,400 barrels of oil, 45,000 lbs. of bone ; Turca, Rus sian barque, with 100 barrels of oil, and 1,200 lbs. of bone. Nov. 12.—Arrived—The Bremen ship Hansa, Huring, with 2,300 barrels of oil, and 5,000 lbs. of bone. COUNTRY MARKETS.. EDINBURGH HAY AND STRAW MARKET JANUARY 24. There was a large supply of straw of all descriptions in thp market. The prices were as follow : Oat straw, from 7s Od to 8s Gd per kemple of 16 stones tron ; wheat do., 6s Od to 7s 6d ; barley do., 5s Od to 680 d. Hay from 10d to 12d ; new ditto, Od to Od per stone. EDINBURGH MEAL MARKET-JAN. 24. There were in the market to-day, 26 sacks oatmeal, each weighing 2801bs imperial, which sold thus :-26 at 2/. 88, 0 at 01. Os Od, and 0 at 0/. Os. DALKEITH MEAL MARKET-JAN. 23. There were in the market to-day 77 bags of oatmeal, 24 of barleymeal, and 2of pot-barley. Sales ready. The top price of oatmeal was 2s down ; second, is 9d down; and third lid down from last market. Barleymeal on the top, 325; current price, 31s 6d; and lowesi price, 31s. Pot-barley 2s down on the top price from last market. Oatmeal, per sack of 2801bs imperial Barleymeal, per ditto Peasemeal, per ditto Flour, per ditto l—s Od I—s Od. I—s Od. First. I Second. Third. 47s Od 46s 6d 45s Oa —s Od I—s Od —a Oil —s Od. s Od. --s Od Pot-I;ai:ley, per ditto LEEDS, JAN. 24. This morning the show of wheat is fair, the depression of last Tuesday has been fully recovered, and, although the millers do not buy freely, the rates of Friday are main tained on the business done. Barley rather lower. Beans and other articles steady in price. COAL MARK Prices of Coal per ton at t ET.—JAx. 25. to close of the market : s. d. Burnhope 34 0 Davison's West Hartley 42 0 Hasting's Hartley 4O 0 liolywell .42 0 Pelton Main 34 0 Ravensworth Hartley 4O 0 Redheugh Main 35 0 Walker Primrose 3B 0 West Hartley 40 0 Wallsend, &c. Brown 4O el Wallsend, &c. Haswell Lam bton Lumley Russell's Hetton Scarborough Stewart's Whitwell Plummer Cassop Illeugh Hall s. & .42 0 .43 0 .40 3 .42 .40 3 .42 0 .40 0 .42 6 .41 0 40 0 ... Harton 4O 0 Kelloe 43 0 Johnson 4l 0 South Hartlepool ........42 0 Lawson 4O 6 South Kelloe 42 0 Morrison 39 o!Whitworth 39 0 Northumberland E. 35 o;Huuwick 3B 0 . Killingsworth E. 35 0 Tees 42 0 ' r Stobart's Hartley 36 0' Adelaide Tees 43 0 Willington Hartley 4O 0 South Durham Edon Main 4l 0 Witton Park 36 0 Belmont 4 0 0 Derwentwater Hartley 40 0 Braddyll 4O 0 Low Bitchburn 38 0 Hetton 42 0 Watney's Anthracite ....38 0 Ships at market 64 I Sold 52. RAILWAY SHARE MARKETS. LIVERPOOL, JAN. 25. STOCK EXCHANGE.—The market has undergone several fluctuations to-day, consequent upon political rumours. We opened at a rise of 1 to 14 per cent. on last night, and we closed this evening above last night's prices. Caledo nian, 25 ; Lancashire and Yorkshire, 61i ; West Riding Union, 4 d ; London and North-Western, 100 k 100; 313nehester, Sheffield, and Lincoln, 20q ; Midland, 60 ; North British, 7 ; South-Eastern and Dover, 17 7-16 g ; Dutch Rhenish, 3 d. MANCHESTER, JAN. 25. STOCK EXCHANGE. The market has had a busy character to-day. Prices receded about twelve o'clock, but they regained their former strength before the close. The sales were :—Blackburns, 4 ; Caledonians, 25i 4; Lancashire and Yorkshire, 61k; London and North- Western (M. B. Qrs. C.), 1-16 p. ; Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln, 20A 4 ; ditto (10/. Pref.), 94 ; ditto ( New 61 - Pref.), 1-16 p. ; Midland GO ; North British, Tg , 3uuth Eastern, 17g . SEABORNE MAILS, (N signifies that the mails are sent from the General Post-office by the night—and M by the morning —dispatch.] Day when made up From what Whet. COUNTRIES. in General Post- Port due in Office, Loudon.* Dispatched. England. A.merica(byßrit.pack)N Every Friday .... Liverpool ... Each Mom America (by United Sts. packet') ..........N Jan. 27 ... Liverpool ... Feb. 1 America (by U. States packet) ..........N Jan. 24 .. .• Southampto. Australia (via South ampton) ..........M Feb. 4 .. ........ Sonthampto, Feb. 4 Ditto (via Marseilles) N'Jan . 24 .. Dover Jan. 29 Ditto (via Cape of Good' Hops) 4 ...• • Liverpool ... Uncertain. - Africa (West Coast) ..N 23d of the month.. Plymouth IFth. 14 Alexandria...—. N 8,9, 24, & 30 of m. Dover Ulm. 29 Alexandria.......... M 4th & 20th of mon. Southampton Feb. 4 Bahamas ...........M 17th of the month SeuthamptonYeb. 1 Belgium. ............N Daily.— .... Dover .. Daily Brazil .......... ..Ml9th of the month .. Southampton 'Feb. 16 Buenos Ayres _ ..M 9th of the month.. Southampton Feb. 1 rtor t it Cape of Good Hope ..Njl4th of the month Plymouth .. Jan. 26 Cape of Good Hope ..N,l4th of the month. Southampton, Cape de Verds 9th of the month.. Plymouth .. i ,lan. 26 Ceylon (see India) Ceylon ...... ........N 'l4th of the month Plymouth .. !Jan. 26 Channel Isles ........NlMon.,Wed.,&FrictlgouthampionlTu.Th.Sat. Chili ................11112d & 17th of monthlSeuthamptoniFeb. 1 China (see India) Constantinople ......N17,8,17,21,&27 ofm. Dover 4an. 30 Constantinople & 20th of mon. Southampton IFeb. 4 cont. of Europe M & N Twice daily Dover Twicedally Egypt (see India) France ........ M & N Twice dai1y...... Dover ......ITwicedaily Gibraltar ..........M 4,7, 17, 20, 27 ofm. Southamptosi4an. 26 Greece (see India) Greytown ........ ..M,2nd & 17th of mon. Aouthamptori Feb. 1 Ilamburgh NI Tuesday & Friday London ..... Elavannah ..........M,2nd of the month Southampton Feb. 1 Holland Honduras AV 17th of the month. Southampton 'Feb. 16 India (viaSouthampt.)M,4th & 20th of mon. Southampton Feb. 4 India (via Marseilles)M Bth& 24th of month Dover ...... 'Jan. 29 lonian Isles (see Indla)'7, 17, & 27 of mon D0ver...... Ireland &Ni Twice daily Holyhead .. Twicedail Lisbon.. .. g 7, 9, 17, & 27 of m. Southampton Jan. 26 Madeira ...... 51,9 th of the month Southampt on Feb. 16 Madeira ............ N i23d of month Plymouth Feb. 14 Malta (see India) Malta 7,17,19,2,7, 30 ofm. Dover 29 Mauritius (see India) Mauritius 14th of the month , Plymouth .. iJan. 26 Mexico ............M,2nd of the month.. ISouthampte n l Feb. 1 Naples .. N sth 15th25thofmon. Dover .... ... 'Jan. 22 New Granada New Zea1and........., By private ship Various ports iUncertall Papal States N sthlsth2stholYnon. Dover .... .. Feb. 2 Peninsula .... ..M Ithl7th2Bthofmon. Southampt on 'Jan. 26 Peru . . „M 2d & 27th of mon. Southampton Feb. 1 Port Natal 14th of the month Plymouth ..'Jan. 26 Sjcily ...—.........N,5th15th25th0fm0n, Dover Feb. 2 Tuscany .. „N s thlsth2sthoirnon. Dover IFeb. 2 Venezuela .... .. hi 2d& 17th of month Southampt on'Feb. 1 Van Diemen's Land (see! Australia) . West Indies 11th 01 month i SouthamptonFeb. 1 * When any of these dates Mil on a Sunday, the msdls will no dispatched on the following day. with the exceptien of the India via Southampton), and the Malta, both of which will be dispatched the day preceding. PLAY-GOING IN PARIS. --Judging from the annual receipts of the theatres and places of amusement just published, the taste for play-going in Paris exhibits no diminution. In 1852 the receipts were 11,288,974 f., whereas in 1853 they amounted to 13 ,157,000 f, show ing an increase of 1,868,000 f. BIRTHS. OF A BON. On the 23d instant, at 26, Lowndes-street, Belgrave' square, the wife of Dr. Hutton. On the 24th inst., at 4, Charles-street, Lowndes-square , the wife of R. B. Tonnent, Esq. OF A DAUGHTER. On the 23d inst., at Lichfield house, Richmond, th e wife of Morgan Yeatman, E sq . At Ellastone, Stafford s hi re, the lady of the Rev. Sir C. R. Lighton, Bart. MARRIED. On the 21st inst., at St. Ja mes ' s Ch urc h, E msw ath, Henry Peskett, Esq. M.D of Petersfield to Catherine' youngest da ug ht er ofr the late James Philip Hicks, EC" of Emsworth. On the 24th inst. at St. Mary's Bryanston-squar e ' Henry Walford, third of Charles Green Esq., to Ems`' second daught er o f th e late William Fowler Sones, of Ashurst-park, Kent. DIED. -- - - On the 22d inst., in St. Stephen' s • green , Dublin, g ad OS, Franci s J o h n Fitzgerald, Esq., of Adelphi, count , ' Clare, of which county h e was a mag i s t ra t e an d' deputr lieutenant. On the 23d inst., at 2, Highbury-terrace, in the 14th year of her :age, Margaret Jane, youngest daughter of Jos' Barker Chapman, Esq. On the 22d inst., at Twickenham, Mary, widow of the late John Ramsden, Esq., aged 83. DINDON : Printed and Published by WIRD() YOUN„G ' of No. 112, St ran d, P r i n t er , a t Th e S un Office, No. lit Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the ootuitY of Middlesex, Thursday, January 26,18. L N., Jan. MI