The Sun. — London, England, 1845-01-11 00:00:00

• ---~ ;c~►~ . ;Ed . Liam- rV S. vyf , 4, ill ;'°*. circ! ,tedif fro° fro° me r• Pti rd. 4i9" as rotb i d 01, I d o re' 1 6 el 4CITEOLIS PRESERVATION.—An Col li "l'ir d e • d at the Broad Oak . .eryi wh ey seription has occurred 414 .--- accident of a t, th ce Messrs. Robinson and Co. are sinking a pit wards of 260 hrei:d4lushy-park mine. It hrti n - "P. 44d Men have been ar engaged' secure. The ttie tt 8 1 ef it, With a view of rendering it upwards in bricking a three f eet stand Whilst working upon a about attached to a eskt:.cittare, and suspended by a rope w scaffold 111 )04 ;*. Yesterday week the scaffolding, i i within tliN e ", Was raised by horses ; and on arriving within men Coba Yards from the top (the scaffold not ar being able to Mtewtte‘lt\irelY out of the shaft without being placed it secure, an t i to JO,), parties were preparing tomake horse raise the pitmen, when the horse driver os ( in w g ho n S l e l Na : Were attached to capstan arms), P Seitrioiecicre, disengaged the horses, and, in a down the supposing moment, the 411 1ift ~! With the two men, was precipitated ti le sp o " t itl l fearful velocity-. The underlooker being on . Ileettr, reinediately tried to grasp the arms of the cap tift, c ; B taY its progress, but was knocked down f ti b m y be it r . uetwez-Nards succeeded in placing a Piece' of timber some tleoee'll the spokes of one of the pulleys, ttiptd ',checked the speed ; still the men descended . . hic at a 4aehe,iltte, catching the sides repeatedly, until were they reerte4. the bottom, when scaffold and men c copi, 41 water; and wonderful to relate, on sending a the ~,„ of Other men down by the engine, to look after it lk L a ,7 ' i lea, they were found unhurt, save from hay lIP 4a severe ducking They were speedily brought I;et.cd the following day; pursued their labours as usual. D,reselier,seaPe is attributed, in a St measuFe, .to so tl klitl 'of Mind di played by them in clinging s Of tt ,j tO the scaffold srope, and there being a few yard qter at the bottom of the pit.—Liverpool Mercury. , b/ N , , Lt i , ' 4 4 TO SIR R. POTTINGBR BY THE ORIENTA L (4 ti;'''"--Yesterday a dinner was given by the mem ber s e 144:00ri '' Oriental Club to Sir Henry Pottinger, at i f: . 411 Club-house, in Hanover-square. Lord Auc KTh e b w .its in the hair, and among the company W"er—al rlZlght Ren.HtMackenzie, Sir E. Ryan, gr. V", ALP., General M'Leod, Mr. J. D. de . Ve tnn: Gene tre „i s ',',. de Vetre, General Sandvvith, Sir J. Lushin N4l44lalcciro, Sir J. Campbell, Col. Limona, I. Capt. Wade, Mr. Woosnarn, Mr. Burgess,. )4,*tlweil, Captain Barber, Sir J. Doveton, Mr. Prinsep, Caul ?,,ll 1!11°13, Captain She Captain Eastwick, AI ohun Gen. Col. kl j.e- Lord Auckland, in Captain the health of Sir • • ottin • proposing • • uitbed itdi i_. ,said that the health of that distinguished tt2ttiolv..eual bad never been proposed by a more sincere ,rer th he (Lord Auckland) was. had th,`,4ln thane dpend on his zeal, firmness, and l ability in It service, and bsd never found him Wanting. 1141,L('Is therefore with great satisfaction that he had th er e q his appointment to China. His proceedings 11)4 ,were marked by firmness, acuteness, and foresight, 'ottiillstified all anticipations.—(Cheers.) Sir n 11,ltacFur, in returning thanks said, that of all the Henrye -14,4 had had received since 'he returned to England. 141 thi s cd affected him more than those he had received 414,, a comparatively private occasion. —(Hear, hear.). the, the other toasts given were " The Directors of a id !Ist India Company," " The Duke of Wellington," ntellllit` Prosperity to the Oriental Club." Dr. Holt baslTli _zie,Propoed the "Health of the Chairman," to e "'"4l Auckland responded, and the company did t), Parate till after midnight. The dinner (which gave Ilittllle't4rtlltisfaetion to a critical company) was provided by o t „' . fat on and Breach, of the London Tavern, who ' c ld, ( l . l ) Plit d the gold Which th e tables were plate wereyule a w n exception to th e gie -011 occasionts of public festivity. MARKET NEWS.—(THIS DAY.) COVENT- Iruitelhad a f u ll GARDEN. average time of year supply of both Piand Vegetables on sale, while the demand was t in act i ve, at but little voriation in prices. atoes from 3s to 4s 9d. per cwt; Turnips, Is 9d to 2s 9d ; Carrots, 5s to 68 fid ; C o l ewor t s , or G reens, 2 8 to 3 3 3d ; and Leeks, 8d to is 6d per dozes bunches ; Apples and Pears, 2s to 4s ; Spinach, is 6d to 2s ; and 13 7 , Is 9d t o 2 s 6 d per half sieve ; Pine Apples, ths ; and Filberts and Cobb Nuts, 10d to Is 3d 5 1 ° ; Savoys, is to 2s per dozen ; Hors e R a di s h, 2s 1 7 r ; Broeoli, 2 s to 3s 6d • and Celery, is to 2 s 6d ' e ; Orange s and Lessons, 8s to 103 per 100. riEWGIITE 41.1%1D 1 .EADEN21.4.1.1.. Although then supplies of both Game and Poultry 'were by no m s large, the sale was heavy, at barely previous rates, With the exception of prime Mutton 4rl d Veal commanding a steady sale at full curren cies, the trade was heavy at barely previous figures. ef, from 2 s 6d to 3s ;• Mutton, 2s 8d to 3s 8d ; 'Pal, 3s 6d to 43 6d ; and Pork, 2s 6d to 3s 10d per 81ba. There NEWPORT. was a fair uiry for good Meat. In other 4 , l‘i i rld‘ nest to nothing wi l ts doing. Beef from 2s 10d to 3s "u ; Mutton, 2s 10d to 3s 8d ; Veal, 3s 6d to 4s 6d ; lad Pork, 3s to 43 per Sibs. tletsklt fr hou . RUNGERPORD. gh we had but limited suppl i es of most arti t.,°" and e ring, the genera l demand was in a very sluggish prices were not supported. The DILLINGSGA.TE. b us . 5 4ply of Fish was not large, yet only a moderate I nesa was doing in it, at about late rates. WRXTECHAPEI. • ati/‘ll:ehohaci a dull inquiry for almost all kinds of M ea t ; Yalu ' w , ev er, we can not i ce no mater i a l alteration in 3881' "eet, from 2s 8d to 3s 6d Pork,o 26 10d • .0 pep Sibs s ; re al 3 6d to 44 6d ; and 2s 8d to ..slid Th e • BREAD. frorn ticem of wheaten Bread in the Metropolis are ,ctlrv. to ;id ; of household (1: o, sld to bid per 41bs 53116 1, W hides at p e sir n 71, d fe r i t ° 5 s 10d . -41" 4 lb 5. tIIAIk — R B E C T st . steers and heifers p ep hide s , middling hides, 5s od to 5s 4d ; in le td to 4s 10d. Sh ee p an d ca lf s ki ns , a t % • Js 4 ; t calf, 6s 6d to 8s Od ; long woolled short ditto, 2s 6d to 3s 6d. letlttr ll , RAY RCARZETS. Meadow 31 lOs to 4115 s 41 ,, 10 3 .";,, t ,to, 4/ 16s to 51 4s; fine Upland_ ditto, Si 5s to tl6t ~iover Hay, 41 lOs to 61; Oat Straw, 1/ 14s to the ' Iv, heat Straw, 1/ 16s to 1/ 18s per load. Trade _to,,lv4ole dull, at our quotations. V4o.,3MtLAND.:—Coarse Meadow Hay, 3/ 12s to 4/ 16s; 4/ ditto, 4/ lis to Si 5s ; fine Upland ditto, 51 6s to to ;r if l Clover Hay, 41 lOs to 61; Oat Straw, 11 15. 4tera 8; Wheat Straw, 1/18s to 2/ per load. A fair w i F e "PPly, and a steady demand. Coarse Useful ditto,Meadow Hay, 31 . 1 . Os to 41155; 51 10. Lo; 41 16s to Si 4s ; fine Upland ditto, Si 5s to 1 / 16s ' ; Clover Hay, 41 10s to 6/ • Oat Straw, 1/ 14s to 1 110, ; Wheat Straw, 1/ 16s to 11 18s per load. Both 411 d Straw sold slowly, at late rates. WA X--EFTr FRIDAY. We h CORN MARKET. — thi s d " v e to report a very heavy arrival of Wheat k to ri c l4 Y, 8 Market. Fine dry samples support last wee 's 'E ri c out ka n ti ttiin other descriptions are slow sale and rather . silpply of Barley is not large, yet prices , 4 1)11 a s t i e n r e i e s a il s°, ne instances Is. per quarter. Not much P.ssin g in Oats, Beans, and Shelling, without alteration in value. - Per qr. of 601 b. to the bushel. Wh b , EXTRA. Ne " :4 f 1.01 -k, Essex, anfent........ Red —to 441 44 to 4 NDitto ...;;' White — 51 49 50 0rf01k.... ditto , -7:.... R e d ..... 45 43 41 Ditto " ****** Zii - ,7 . ***** White... -- 50 45 48 Lincolnshire and Cambridge._ Red..-- 4a 42 43 • YoDitto ditt0..... ....... White....-- NI 48 48 rk5 hire......... Red....... 44 40 43 Ditto ........ ( iM **** . White... -.. 50 45 43 . • l'" D ai i n tt o tied 4B 41 46 ditto ..... ....... White- — 52 48 50 'ltl ey t, Per quarter imperial. .4,orfolk and Suffolk Yorksh ire and Lincolnshire 34 31 32 P oreigti Grindi n 36 `. 3o g 34 3t 32 ilt ab I. Small tine 44 06 38 Ticks ....................... 42 34 37 0 Foreig,;"*" . *" ..... " .... .. 4. 35 40 44, Potat .;;:dlCl7,;i: : .... ..... ........... " :-"" " ... -... 2 3 imi n Hcaii ° 14 ..... . .. loci to i2d.. Fer,ign 10d, to 12J. ib: lit , ,n,. Ar 4,4 L.., ... . . .... ..................... .....,...53.. t.,., 27, 04. p..t ...... .6..... ........... ..., 404 tin, 43;. •,tr ~ .d ,rid .`"teed..... ......................«. 231 .' 3 ' '2s''''''' '''er Li:, __,...___________________. , OYD'S SHIPPIN ti—(THIS DAY.) It ' 4° 'thozz, JAN. 11 . —Wind southerly breeze, with rain. • blew strong this morning. 1)441 .4 JAN. 10 . - -Wind S.S.W., a fresh breeze, 8 P.M. `.Arrd. Elizabeth, Cranstone, Ichaboe for Leith ; Ad batr al Nelson, Rossignal, 'Laguna. A Russian ship from th e north, coals laden ton the Goodwin Sand this mo rning, but was assisted off by a Ramsgate boat, with loss of anchor, and at 5 P.M. was riding in the Gull Stream. 9 P.M. blue lights hav e been burning and guns 4in g in the direction of the Goodwin Sands - f time past—it is supposed a ship is ashore. Several boats Se Or some have gone to ascertain the cause. A vessel, apparently r a shore on the Bunthead, is burning a tar barrel. the Gull el 4 ht has fired several guns and rockets, and the boats ',‘ gone to her assistance. 44-08T551OUTII, JAN. ,10.—Wind S. to S.S.W., fresh 8 4.--- Arrd. Br ouvers h aven, Sansen, Batavia for Rot it;4,,ta, sailed O ct. 1 ; Princess Louise, late Robertus, u IMeiro for Hamburgh. qlt ik 2 4 TE, JAN. 10.—Wind S.S.W.—The Fritheof, t i,t , m,„,7,,,g, from Hull to Malta, with coals, got on the `l , l4 ,_ , T 4 — , k t h i _is morning, but was assisted off, and is in the X e ,,,.‘X11-5.,„7 a little water.. l' o '' etti zu L I JAN. 10.—Wind S., fresh.—Arrd. Flora, As Ilte t, 10, 4 , 4 ; Brilliant, Payne, and Princess Royal, 141 :41e,, -- itoo t . Mary Queen of Scots, Kelley, Per a°ll I, " ; l'Zi -' ,i Gu s ghtingale, Hunter, Macao ; Warman, Gib -14,4413r1 8 1 r a ; Pharsalia, New Orleans ;. Ro.beTrhtolm'aars •/;!t"' I = e-°l3 . Sld Arethusa, Rio Janeiro .. i h eraarnl, ' Africa ; 44 1 „t,; t 0 ,,,, - -uuco ; Paragon, Rapids, Ha l' 44 1'%; w aY, New Orleans. Rio Off, jan e S ir u o lt ; an E . li C za h b in et a h : 4tki b er ' r Bo m b ay Q, 4; 8 5 ; Hero, 1 3 y tib , Ylph, New Calabar ; Agnes Sophia, Nassau; . lm' INew,\,.llllcl Thomas B. Wales, New Orleans ; Liver 'f,4ek pri,,4ork; Union, Halifax ; Hope, Newfoundland; fo r u i , /1 W z !: a nd Isis —, i; on A -4E,D, JAN. 10.—Sarah Trotman, Ichaboe , 1 4 „ eetw ood. m o - -.otr r for A.. / 4, JAN. 10 Wind S.—Arrd. Patriot, Lon with ala, • *- 1; , a brig or t w ltb bows stove, having been in contact 411444.0uTH Darqne, name unknown. 4 4 ;, aqui t il . , N. 10.—Wind S.S.W., strong breeze 'Zcl seti..--,,Arrd. off, Gazelle, Ramsay, Hobart Town, i' l ltl4 o 4: ; Spectator, Mauritius. 11,1 111 8'ro t -;rEHI J AN. l o.—Galatea, Bowes, Richebucto. - s cion, 13 "N. 10.—Wind S., strong.—Arrd. Maria, ut, C os t ra IV44llitn. bob ". B . —Socrates Williams, Ichaboe. 1 ood f ,- JAN gt IV •ri ' S Vir A d Pursuit, iiir, ..eri .. ,-,.-- - ln- . . rr . 1 T .4 „3 ' Icli All% 9.--Wind S.W.—Arrd. Express, Camp stllttaboe. kl ilit t. TA NI), j ". 9. --Sid. Pasco Greenfell, Cuba. ik, 1 , 44 11016,-N. 9 . — Arrd. Douglas, Giles, Ichaboe ; i ' , , St. j o Z f ess .t, St. John's, New Brunswick : Eliza tn,t 4 4 tmo u . ru sj .0 ew Brunswick. ili ts No n ' . AN. 10._ The Brisk, of and from Shields, board b e , n , which was on the Scroby Sand yesterday, got oft 11, , and h as , aft er throwing 100 tons of coal over the e A nn a ueen brought into the Roads. n r,-.1, " Eturna, and the Coldstream, ashore on ' 414 Of c-arY4So:stiodye, derma, and been got off, after throwing SUMMARY OF NEWS Ni) laftzbltt eptitton, " Who runs may read.' rs3xxxo . r4E. Admiral Dupetit Thouars, had the honour of ditl;ng with their Majesties the King and Queen of the rrench, on Tuesday. The Duke de Nemours gave his first soiree for the winter on Wednesday night. A brilliant assemblage, amongst whom were several members of the high di plomacy, Peers of France, Deputies, Gene-Cat 'officers, artists, and men of letters, were ptesetit. At nine o'clock the King entered the apartment, accompanied by the Queen, Madame Adelaide, the Connt and Countess d'Aquila, the Prince and Princess de Joinvill e , the Duke and Duche ss d'Aumale, and th e D u k e de Montpensier. The King was in plain clothes, as were all the persons invited. Ile wore the Grand Cordon of the Legion of Honour, and the order of the Garter. The soiree was prolonged to eleven o'clock. The Duke intends sr;:;ing, it is said, several fetes this year, to which h.:, will suc cessively invite all the persons adm ; .i.ced to his royal all . father's b a ll s , t h at i s to say, in politics, i n th e serv i ce of ...no are distinguished the army, the arts, the Government, the law, fact, the elite of -.tera u ,re and manufactures—in - me persons devoted, in their s evera l positions tne institutions of July. . Moniteter declares that the report of the resig r- _,stion of the Count de Montalivet, mentioned by the awstitutionnel, is totally destitute of foundation. The Duke de Palmella, late Ambassador from the Court of Portugal to the Queen of England, has arrived in Paris. The French Chamber of Deputies met on Thursday, when Marshal Soult informed the Assembly that he had been ordered by the King to apply to the Chambers for a pension of 15,000 f. in favour of M. Villemain, who bad been compelled by his health to resign the exalted station of Minister of Public Instruction, with which he had been invested by the confidence of the King. Although M. Villemain had occupied for many years important offices in the State, he possessed no fortune, and consequently left his family totally unprovided for. This consideration, and the eminent services he had rendered the country, which the Marshal recapitulated, in order to justify. the demand, had, he said, induced the King's Government to apply to the Chamber for a pro vision on his behalf; which is to revert integrally, and by equal portions to his three daughters, the eldest of whom was born in 1835, and the youngest in 1839. Should Madame Villemain survive her husband, she is to be entitled to one half of the pension of 15,000 f., the other being divided between her children. A Bill to that effect was laid on the table, and the Members imme diately afterwards retired to their Committees. The revenues of Cuba, says a Madrid journal, have gradually increased for some years. In 1811, they rea lised scarcely 3,000,000 piastres; in 1841, they amounted to 11,817,299 ; and in 1842, to 12,114,893 piastres, without including the tithes for the maintenance of the clergy and public worship. This revenue was thus de rived :—From the Havannah, 8,895,453 piastres ; from Port-au-Prince, 1,238,439 ; from San lago - de Cuba, 1 ,980,950 piastres. The Government paper at Copenhagen has just publishectine budget of Denmark for 1845. The receipts, which are estimated at 15,844,869 rix-dollars, show an excess of 206,862 rix-dollars over the expenses. The Elector of Hesse has conferred the Grand Cross of the order of the Golden Lion on the Hereditary Grand Duke, on Duke George of Mecklenburgh Strelitz, and on Prince George of Cambridge. 1.113116 , 003161C1L In the case of .Newall v. Webster, which was con cluded in tne Court of Exchequer, the jury found for the plaintiff, thus confirming the validity of his patent for making wire-rope. John Short; a licensed victualler, came up to pass his final examination in Bankruptcy before Mr. Commis sioner Fonblanque. The circumstances of this case are somewhat curious. The bankrupt (under the new ;Act iu Bankruptcy) was his own petitioning creditor ; not one creditor appeared to prove a debt against his estate, no assignee had been chosen, and yet he appears-d in order to pass his final examination. The Learned Commis sioner said that this was one of a class of cases which called for the most marked displeasure of the Court, and, without making any further observation, the deci sion of the Court was, that the choice of assignees and the bankrupt's final examination be both adjourned sine die. At the Central Criminal Court Jane Turner and Mary Ann Rumpling, of the tender age of fifteen years, were convicted of burglariously, at the parish of St. Maryle bone, breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Ger trude Mary R. Curzon, a lady of property, living in the vicinity of Regent's-park. Turner had been previously convicted. The Recorder, in passing sentei ce, said that they had been very properly convicted of a serious offence, and when their age and sex were considered, a very singular one. The sentence was that Turner be kept to hard labour, in the House of Correction, for one Year ; and the other prisoner for six months. Mr. Bond, tht presiding magistrate at Queen-square, received a letter containing a bequest of 201. (less 21 d uty), under the will of Francis Bailey, Esq., to be applied, at the discretion of the magistrate, to the relief of the poor. A similar bequest has bee❑ left by Mr. Bailey to the poor-box of every Police-court in the metropolis. So wretched is the accommodation at the new Lam beth Police -court, that the magistrates have made up their minds to hold the court for one week in one of the rooms of th• private house in front of the premises, in York-row, Kennington-road, so as to give time for the necessary alterations. OUALT- PALJRZIONAZMIa. The Duke of Buccleuch has arrived at Montagu House, Whitehall, from Dalkeith Palace, Scotland. The Duchess and family are expected early next week. The Marquis of Huntley has arrived in Paris from Switzerland, and has alighted at the Hotel Wagram, Rue do Rivoli. The Earl and Countess of Shrewsbury have left An tares Hotel, en a tour in Devonshire. Viscount Duncannon, the Ladies Harriet and Kath leen Ponsonby, the Hon. Messrs. Frederick Walter and Gerald Ponsonby, the Earl of Huntingdon, the Hon. Mrs. Jephson and Miss Jephson, Sir Richard Cox, Bart., Sir Charles O'Donnell, Capt. Egerton, Capt. Gough, and upwards of 120 members of the principal families in the county, attended the Turvane Hunt ball, held at Carrick-on-Suir, last week. Viscount and Viscountess Villiers have arrived at Middleton Park, from Drayton Manor, where the Noble Viscount and Viscountess have been staying for some time, with Sir Robert and Lady Peel. Lord Forester has arrived at Belvoir Castle, on a visit to the Duke of Rutland. Lord and Lady Templemore have arrived at Dublin, after making a tour of visits in Ireland, and visiting their estates in the county of Wexford. Lady Dover and family have arrived in town from Trentham, where they have been passing some days with the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland. Sir Clifford and lady Constable have a large party of their friends at present staying on a visit at Burton Con stable. •-• :0K1E , C,12...T...ett1.;± xNiri VI6 A correspondence betweenthe secretaries of the Brighton and the Croydon Railway Companies has been published, in consequence of the observations made by the Chairman of the Brighton Company, at the meet ing of proprietors on the subject of the toll demanded by the Croydon Compai.y. From this correspondence it appears that in September lust the Croydon Company otiert.d to allow the passage of all the Brighton traffic over the Croydon Railway to and from London-bridge at the proportionate toll, according to distance, on the terms of an agreement in - relation thereto subsisting be tween themselves and the South-Eastern Company. To this the Brighton Company replied, that having re cently entered into an agreement with the Croydon Company to regulate the toll on goods, parcels, cattle, &c., they could not abrogate such agreement, but were willing to accede to the proposal of the Croydon Com pany for a proportionate toll on the passenger traffic, including carriages, horses, and dogs. This the Croydon Company considered as a refusal to accept the propor tionate toll on the traffic of the Brighton Company pass ing over the Croyden Railway from London-bridge, and they concluded by stating that the Brighton Board of Directors are doubtlessly aware that the agreement between the Croydon and South-Eastern Companies in cludes both goods and passengers, ar.d that no arrange ment can be made by the Directors of the Croydon Company with the Brighton Company on any other than those terms. The Society of Odd Fellows, of Aylesbury (oddly enough), gave a ball and supper at the Swan Inn, in that town, on Wednesday, the tat inst., "to commemorate" her Majesty's visit to Stowe. The Colin will not arrive at the seat of the Duke of Buckingham until Wednesday next. Some reduction is likely to take place in the course of a few days in the fees received at the metropolitan police courts. The Commissioners of Police have, within a few cays past, received instructions to that effect from the Home-office, which will soon be made known to the public. An alarming fire broke out on Tuesday last on the Market Strand, in Falmouth, when five houses were de stroyed ; it was with great difficulty that a large range in connexion, and others across a narrow passage, were preserved. The greatest energy was used, and the most prompt assistance given by the people, and the town engines were efficiently manned, under the superintend ence of the mayor, the magistrates, and Capt. Spettigue, of the Coast Guard. Most praiseworthy assist ance was likewise rendered by the officers aid crew of the Genoese war steamer Malfatano ; also by those of the Dutch war steamer Vesuvius, both at present in our harbour. The officers and crews of her Majesty's packets likewise were prompt in attendance, together with a file of soldiers from Pondennis, with an engine. THE ALLEGED MURDER AT SALT HlLL—Sub sequent to the inquest on the body of Mary Hart, which was concluded on . Wednesday last, it has been ascer tained that on Wednesday, the Ist instant, a person in the garb of a Quaker purchased some of the salt, sworn to at the inquest as having caused the death of the de ceased woman, at the shop of Mr. Thomas, chemist and druggist, Bishopsgate-street, City, which individu a l, i t is beli eve d, can be identified. Should it prove to be the person who stand&orharged with the murder, it will term an important link in the circumstantial evidence already published, LowLsTorr, JAN. 9.—The barque Harcourt, of Loudon, from Honduras for Sunderland, with 'nab°. gany, struck upon the Barnard Sand on Thursday morn ing, but was assisted off at high water the same even ing, and proceeded for London. She was got off by the great exertions of the Pakefield men.—Norfolk Chron. TEE SUN, LONDON, LITERATURE. VACATION RAMBLES. 2 Vohs; Moxon, London, 1845 . , The author of this work - his been long known to the public as one •if the, most successful dramat;, - ; 0 of the ate ; i\libse tragedies of A r on, Aetenzan Captive . Glene - ae, and the d':.onecim o forms havt,,', recently - re-issued by M o toe f_ ti chea p fv - C understand, been ( .:,:aculated by th , n!li'at atnong the operative classes 0 4ilttsig' proof of the rapid progress that education and the refined tastes it engenders, have made eiti.otig• them within the last twenty veer'. In the volumes before us M r . SerrAril Tai(ourd has essayed a far less aspirieg night than in the popular productions to which we have just referred. Quitting the lofty walk of the drama—though, we trust, only for a season—he has come forth as the unambitious chronicler of three separate eontinental tours which he made in the vacations of 1841, and the two subsequent years. The route which he took is one with which most Englishmen are familiar, but he has invested it with all the charm of novelty by the freshness and vivacity of his style, the racy vigour of his descriptions, tic,l the spirit of bonhoinnzie and cordiality that per vades all his remarks. In this last respect his volumes present a remarkable contrast to the majo rity of similar works with which we are acquainted; for, however enterprising they may be, courting dif ficulties for the pleasure of grappling with and sur mounting them, Englishmen—the ungracious truth must be told—do not, in general, make the most agreeable travellers, more especially if they happen to be travelling, not for scientific purposes, but merely for amusement. In the first place, they are far too easily put out of their way; secondly, they are im bued with too keen a sense of the snug comforts of home, and take it as a sort of personal affront or calamity if they do not meet with the same abroad; thirdly, they are apt to be intolerant of all usages that differ from their own ; and fourthly, their distrustful fancy is always bristling up, " like quills upon the fretful porcupine," from an apprehension that, go where they will, they are pretty sure to be "taken in and done for," to borrow the phraseology of lodging houses. Then their inveterate practice of grum bling ! " Think of that, Master Brook !" Without a grievance John Bull is a fish out of water. If he cannot find a 1 etty misery ready made to his hand, he feels it to be a sort of duty to invent one, and in this respect at least, his invention never plays him false. Sterne has divided English travellers into two classes—those who travel " from Dan to Beersheba " for the perverse pleasur e o f di scover i ng t h at " a ll i s barren," and those—the more rational, but limited class—who are ready to be delighted with all they see and hear, to take human nature as they find it, and not to find fault with foreign customs, simply because they may happen t o diff er widely from their own. Mr. Sergeant Talfourd is a traveller of this last com plexion. Unlike Sterne's Smellfungus he views everything through a s oc i a l, cheerful medium. Fluc tuating weather—indifferent accommodations—even the vexatious passport system—fail to disturb the sunny serenity of his mind. On he goes, hoping for the best, and deriving comfort from the reflection, that if to-day rain and fog shut out his view of the Alps, the cloudl ess sun o f t o - morrow w ill ena bl e hi m to behold them in all their glory. There is an inex pressible charm in a book of travels penned in this cordial, good-humoured, accommodating spirit. The reader at once contracts a sort of personal friendship for the author, and ever after associates his name with the most pleasing recollections. But not only is Mr. Talfourd a cordial, sunny-natured traveller, but like all men endowed with high imaginative faculties, he has a quick intuitive apprehension of the picturesque, and nothing can surpass the mingled grandeur and beauty of some of his descriptions of Alpine, Italian, and Rhenish scenery, in which we here and there meet with touches of genuine poetry, thrown out quite unconsciously as it were, not unworthy the author of lon. To his credit, also, it must be added that he has a nice conception of creature com forts • and the pleasant process of goo d eat i ng an d drinking goes on in his social pages quite as actively as in the inimitable Scotch novels. Though en raptured of course with the Alps, our author never forgets the highland and lowland scenery of Scotland, which he is continually reverting to with satisfaction, and which seems to have made an impression on his mind greater even than that produced by the monarch of European mountains, the snow-crowned Mount Blanc. Every one is aware that the ascent of this lofty eminence is a task of no slight difficulty and some peril, but Mr. Talfourd, undeterred by the numerous failures of those who have attempted it, boldly resolved to set his foot on the highest ground in Europe ; and accordingly set out with a large party from the inn at Chamouni, duly furnished with guides, porters, provisions, and all things needful for the hazardous expedition. His aecount of this ascent —of his passage across the glaciers—of his dinner on a ledge of rock half way up—of his night's halt among the snow—and his difficult transit across an unfathomable chasm—these details are full of the most romantic interest, and have, besides, a dramatic force and truthful earnestness about them that act on the reader's fancy like a spell. We regret to be compelled to state that our author failed in his attempt to reach the snowy summit of Mount Blanc. He managed, however, to get within a few hundred feet of it, and was then compelled to return, partly in consequence of hie own fast-increasing weakness, and partly in consequence of the still greater exhaustion of one of the more youthful members of the party. But though he failed in his bold enterprise, he has still the proud consolation of reflecting that he got nearer to Heaven than lawyer ever got before, or, we suspect, will ever get again; and .may boast that he is the first Queen's Sergeant who ever stood within three hundred feet of the topmost height of Mount Blanc ! We subjoin a portion of his description of a night's bivouack among the upper solitudes of this majestic mountain:— " When the first rage of hunger was appeased—but before the tables were eaten or removed (which will not be for some time)—the guides suggested the expediency of arranging our dresses at once for the night and for the ascent, by putting on the warm clothing suitable to both, and which being once done, would enable us to start as soon as we should be awakened for the upward march. A smooth ledge in the next rock served us in turn for a dressing-room, in which my huge stockings were, by some magic, drawn on ; and the massive shoes which had been dried in the sun, resumed ; and gaiters buttoned over the trousers in strange fashion—in all which very arduous accomplishments I was assisted by Julien, with a delicate dexterity which would have done honour to a French valet, and a mingled kindness, respect and com mand, like those blended in the manner of an old family servant to a petted young master. I should have thought the shoes, well saturated with snow, once re moved, could never have been put on over the tremen dous stockings ; but even this last miracle of the toilet was haFpily 'accomplished ; and I was pronounced ready to lie down for the night and to start on the morrow, or rather at the midnight summons. So, after a cup of weak brandy and water, which Julien recommen d e d and shared, I took my pole and picked my way over the pro strate bodies of two young gentlemen who were already asleep, and squeezed myself into my allotted niche, with my head supported by a large comfortable stone, and my feet pressed against the low fence edging the shelf — figuring myself to myself as like an effigy on a monu• went. The position was in no respect, however, unplea sant, except in the confinement of the limbs and a very slight feeling of cold ; and I was surprised to find how very tolerable a couch it proved. The notion of the ledge being a terrible place—overhanging or bordering a frightful precipice, is entirely erroneous ; its height above the snow on the side it fronts is not formidable ; and the bristling irregularity of the rock prevents the slightest sense of dizziness or danger. It is far beyond all reach of avalanches—which are heard in the stillness of the night thundering down the surrounding but dis tant precipices with no more possibility of reaching the listener, than when he looks on the Jungfrau from the platform of the Wengern Alp. It has been customary, according to the published narrative of the ascent, to , erect a tent here, under which the travellers sleep ; and Mr. Bosworth, early in the afternoon, put up an awning against the rock and supported it by poles, under which he proposed to sleep and to include us ;—which seemed to justify me in applying to our position the words of the fated Richard— Here pitch our tent ; even hers in Bosworth field-- Up with my tent ; here will I lie to night ; But where to-morrow ?—Well, all's one for that ; Up with the tent!' "But the experiment did not answer; the tent was laid aside, having served no purpose but associating a passage of Shakspeare ;with our lot ; enough in itself to huma ruse the desolate snows ; and its owner, with that quiet kindness which marked his demeanour finding that one of the younger gentlemen needed the accommodation of the best ledge more than himself, silently resigned it, without the theatrical expression of Sir Philip Sidney, and bivouacked on the second rock. We lay, therefore, with no meaner covering than the heavens, on the ledge, my son occupying the outer place, at his' particular de sire, and, for that night only,' and I resting beside him. He did not, however, come to bed till long after I had taken up my station ; but was scrambling about the rocks and breaking chicken bones with the guides, who kept up the festivity of the evening till after sunset. " Soon after I had thus set up my rest,' the grand process of sun-setting began ; and solemn as have been many sunsets to me, I never saw one—l will not say merely equal to this—but one resembling it ; for the dif ference was not in degree, but in kind. Above. and around there was not a cloud—not a speck to dim the deepening azure of the sky, nor a fleecy breath of mist wafted or lingering about the towers or domes of the mountain. Tliese Mowed for a few minutes in deeper rose.colour than that which appeared to clothe them at this hour from below ; the summit, as usual, retained it last ; and wlatm it faded, it left them in the cold white- ness of the dawn. Thus far—with the grandeur above us—all passed in its usual procession of glory ; but.while I watched those receding tints, flocks of clouds arose be- low ; and filled up the valley of Chamount to the brim with tissues waving greyly, like floating shrouds. They were then seen creeping up within the folds of the valley beyond, till that also assumed, as far as it was revealed, the same spectral veil—while the top of the Breven, the Varens, and the head of the Buet, stood out like islands in that solemn sea. But beyond—in the expanse to the right of the 'Leven top, what glory was disclosed! —a heaven-tinged cloudland, not to be gazed at from below by a subject mortal, but to be looked down into A.TUnDA y EVEN' as from 413i4:er• sea,—a subjected enchantment spread b'r:heath us-- - -a 4 if from some pinnacle of heaven, the eye were permitted to gaze upon its lower glories, the habita tions and the at... 5, of angels. The first appearance of -triis vision was that of a celestial city, all of sapphire, circling a lake of asure 3 while far away in measureless F4stiince, legions of angelic hosts—shapeless as those of Rembrandt, descending on Jacob's slumbers, but giving like them the sense of winged glories, were ranged, while tents and pavilions of violet and gold behind them, seemed o bespeak it Martial array. Presently these splendours became all confused ; and then a sterner grandeur reigned ; a scene of huge purple caverns and golden rocks, but beside a sapphire sea studded with islands of deeper gold ; and then the colours blended, and faded, and nothing but one heap of purple clouds filled the place of the gorgeous vision ; and I was alone with the rock, the snow, and the stars." MEMOIRS OF THE REIGN OF GEORGE THE THIRD. 2 Vole. Bentley, London, 1845. These long-promised Memoirs, which close the historical works of Horace Walpole, have at length made their appearance, and will not, on the whole, disappoint public expectation. They are printed from a manuscript copy contained in the box of papers which came into the possession of the late Earl of Waldegrave, and were by him transferred to Lord Holland, in the hope that they might have the benefit of his editorial skill and judgment. Duties, how ever, official and otherwise, of a pressing character, prevented his Lordship from executing the task, and at his death it appeared that he had not even com menced it. Under these circumstances the present Duke of Grafton, on whom, as Lord Waldegrave's executor, the property of the Memoirs had devolved, consulted Sir Denis Le hlarchant on the subject, who readily undertook the duty of Editor, and the volumes now appear under his avowed superinten dence. His task has been no slight one, demanding the union of great industry with proportionate re search and impartiality, and lie has accomplished it in a most satisfactory manner, clearing up all the personal and party references in the text which the lapse of years has rendered obscure, by brief, ex planatory notes, and carefully pointing out to the reader every instance in which Horace Walpole— who had strong political predilections and antipathies —has allowed himself to be led astray by his preju dices. The period of which the Memoirs treat— namely, the first twelve years of the reign of George the Third—has hitherto been comparatively little known, notwithstanding it was one of more than ordinary moment, being marked by such stirring events as the rise of the American revolution, and the Parliamentary struggle respecting general war rants, out of which grew a spirit of free, bold, active inquiry into the prerogatives of the Crown on the one hand, and the privileges of the people on the other. On this important period the Memoirs before us shed a clear, steady light, and give us an insight into the public and private peculiarities of George the Third's character, the intrigues by which he was surrounded, and the durance in which he was kept on his first accession to the throne, which we may vainly seek elsewhere. We always knew that he was an obstinate, self-willed, bigoted Monarch, with as lofty a notion of his own prerogatives as ever was possessed by the Stuarts, but we had no idea that he was so astute, circumspect, and, we may even add, sagacious, as he is here represented to have been. For the first few years of his reign, during the inglorious ascendancy of his favourite Minister, Lord Bute—a man without the slightest capacity for public busi ness—he was kept in a state of thraldom and seclu sion by that statesman and his own mother, the Princess of Wales, which is almost without parallel in the annals of sovereignty. He was accessible to none of his Court but at the stated hours of business and ceremony; nor was any man but the favourite, and the creatures with whom he had garrisoned the palace, allowed access to him. Of that lofty states man and orator, Lord Chatham, the Memoirs furnish us with many curious sketches and anecdotes, not one of which but tends to show the vast hold he had acquired over the public mind, notwithstanding the numerous errors and inconsistencies of which he was guilty in the course of his political career. When he resigned his seat in the Cabinet, in consequence of his advice being overruled on the question of war with Spain, not even his injudicious acceptance of a Peerage for his wife, and a pension of three thousand a year for three lives, could destroy his popularity with the people. They grumbled, it is true, and re sented, for a time, his want of high-mi n d e d disin terestedness ; but they still clung to their favourite Minister, who had gratified the national pride by , humbling France, and carrying the naval and mili tary glory of England to the highest point ; and when, about a month after his resignation, he dined with royalty in the City, he was received with en thusiastic acclamations, and the distinctions," says Horace Walpole, " paid in Guildhall to Mr. Pitt, to the total neglect of the King, bestowed all the honour of the triumph on the former." In reference to the peace with France and Spain, which was the occasion of Pitt's resigning office, the Memoirs before us state that the most unblushing corruption was had re course to by Fox in the House of Commons in order to secure a majority in its favour. " The self-inte rest," we are told, " of each separate Member was appealed to ; and this with so little decorum on the part of either buyer or seller, that a shop was pub licly opened at the Pay-office, whither the Members flocked, and received the wages of their venality in bank-bills, even to so low a sum as two hundred pounds for their votes on the treaty. Twenty-ive thousand pounds, as Martin, Set'retary of the Trea sury, afterwards owned, were issued in one morning; and in a single fortnight a vast majority . was pur chased to approve the peace !" Truly, this is a happy illustration of the wisdom of our ancestors—that wis dom of which the Tories are always vaunting, and which they would gladly see restored among us ! In closing our brief, hasty notice of the present portion of these Memoirs, which terminate with the year 1767, we shall just simply state that they are penned in that light, gossiping, anecdotical vein, of which Horace Walpole is so consummate a master, and blend history with biography in a very attractive manner. As a specimen of the author's powers of portraiture, we quote his sketches of the notorious demagogue, John Wilkes, and his contemporary, Churchill, the satirist : " The North Briton proceeded with an acrimony, a spirit, and a licentiousness unheard of before even in this country. The highest names, whether of statesmen or magistrates, were print e d at l ength, and the insinuations went still higher. In ge nera l, f avour i t i sm was t h e t o pi c , and the partiality of the Court to the Scots. Every obsolete anecdote , every illib era l i nvect i ve, was ra k e d u p and set forth i n strong and witty colours against Scotland. One of the first numbers was one of the most outrageous, the theme taken from the loves of the Queen Isabella and Mortimer. No doubt but it lay open enough to prosecution, and the intention was to seize the author. But on reflection it was not thought advisable to enter on the discussion of such a subject in Westminster Hall ; and, as the daring audaciousness of the writer promised little decorum, it was held prudent to wait till he should furnish a less delicate handle to vengeance : a circum spection that deceived and fell heavy on the author, who, being ad v i se d to more caut i on in hi s co mpositions, replied, he had tried the temper of the Court by the paper on Mortimer, and found they did not dare to touch him. " This author, who must be so often mentioned in the following pages, was John Wilkes, Member of Parlia ment for Aylesbury. He was of a plebeian family (his father was a distiller), but inherited a tolerable fortune in Buckinghamshire, and had been bred at Oxford, where he distinguished himself by humorous attacks on whatever was esteemed most holy and respectable. Unrestrained either in his conduct or conversation, he was allowed to have more wit than in truth he possessed ; and, living with rakes and second-rate authors, he had acquired tame, such as it was, in the middling sphere of life, before his name was so much as known to the public. His appearance as an orator had by no means conspired to make him more noticed. He spoke coldly aid insi pidly, though with impertinence ; his manner was poor, and his countenance horrid. When his pen, which pos sessed an easy impudent style, had drawn the attention of mankind towards him, and it was asked, who this saucy writer was ? Fame, that had adopted him, could furnish but scurvy anecdotes of his private life. He had married a woman of fortune, used her ill, and at last cruelly, to extort from her the provision he had made for her separate maintenance ; he had debauched a maiden of family by an informal promise of marriage, and had been guilty of other frauds and brea c h es o f writings,trust. Y Yet a t s he man, commonly n bitter was in his political t ill-natured or acrimonious. Wantonness, rather than ambition or vengeance, g uid e d martyr of the principles or morals best ca u, ha t n is d e : t a h t e id re , w th as ou n g o k th h in e g b i e n ca h m is e the that led him to care under what Government he lived. To laugh and riot and scatter firebrands, with him was liberty. Despotism will for ever reproach Freedom with the profligacy of such a saint " Associated with Wilkes in pleasure and in the com position of the North Briton was a clergyman named Churchill, who stepped out of obscurity about the same period, and was as open a contemner of decency as Wilkes himself, but far his superior in the endowments of his mind. Adapted to the bear-garden by his athletic mould, Churchill had frequented no school so much as the theatres. He had existed by the lowest drudgery of his function, while poetry amused what leisure he could spare, or rather what leisure he would enjoy ; for his Muse, and his mistress, and his bottle were s o essen ti a l to his existence, that they engrossed all but the refuse of his time. Yet for some years his poetry had proved as indifferent as his sermons, till a cruel and ill-natured satire on the actors had, in the first year of this reign, handed him up to public regard. Havin g caught the tight and aonfd cautious a hand. taste of the town, he proceeded rapidly, an d i n a few more publications started forth a gipaengtasitnlgnthuemrbeeirnss, approaching as nearly as possible to his model, Dryden, ; t nor invited their la 111( flingingchPo pe had ag held e e l dn the w with h w s d o d Imagination, harmony, wit, satire, strength, fire, and li se ,e n l s c e om e e ro f w o d r ed himi on —h h e is they were o i compositions company. Careless of matter and manner, he added grace to sense, or beauty to nonsense, just as they came in his way ; and he could not help being sonorous, even neither enos i s t when he was unintelligible. He advertised the titles of poems, but neither planned nor began them till his book. sellers, or his want of money, forced him to thrust out the crude but glorious sallies of his uncorrected fancy. NG, JANUARY i 1 , 1845. his i;acciianalian.pfieSt, itovi mouthing pairiotisni, and now venting libertinism, tli4 seViiige Ot bad men, and scarce better than the worst, debauching Wives, and pro= tecting his gown by the weight of his fist, engaged with Wilkes in his war on the Scots ; and sometimes learn ing, and as often not knowing, the characters he attacked, set himself up as the Hercules that was to cleanse the State, and punish its oppressors : and, true it is, the storm that saved us was raised in taverns and night cellars ; so much more effectual were the orgies of Churchill and Wilkes than the daggers of Cato and Brutus. The two former saved their country, while Catiline could not ruin his—a work to which such worthies seemed much better adapted." VALENTINE .111'CLU7'CIIY. 3 Vols. Duffy, Dublin, 1845. This story is from the pen of Mr. Carleton, already favourably known to the public by his admirable sketches of Irish character, in which there was more of truth and force, and less of exaggeration, than in any similar sketches yet given to the public, with the sole exception, perhaps, of those by Mrs. Hall. In the volumes before us, Mr. Carleton reads a useful moral lesson to the hardhearted Irish landlord and the flagitious agent; and we would specially reco m- mend his story to the attention of all Irish absentees, for it will show them how often their poorer tenantry are in the habit of being oppressed and despoiled while they are absent from their estates, on which they ought to be frequent, if not constant residents. The tale is written with point and spirit, and is full of characteristic sketches, not the least amusing of which is the sketch of an Irish Squire of the Old School. The third volume is the most entertaining; in the second, the interest flags occasionally, and there are some irrelevant matters introduced, which might have been omitted, or at any rate curtailed with advantage. TAXATION. That tile' eitrrerit eipesePsee of every Government, must be met fly a corresponding taXotion is an admitted truism, but it is one of t6e highest proofs of political sa gacity rnd prudence to apply the burden in such a manner and in clich proportions as will sprit the contin gencies of the different cleeses who contribute t ,, r it. This, however, it may be said, looks admirable in thecry, but it would be extremely difficult to redttcc to actual prac tice, since there are so many interests to be consulted in making laws, and the representatives of those iritcreats are themselves legislators. Yet what is unreasonable or disproportionate, and obviously so to all, must impera tively claim attention when brought out into open day, nor can any Administration refuse to entertain the sub ject. Among the imposts to which these remarks will refer, there is, probably, not one more unfairly allotted, more bitterly felt, or more unwittingly borne, than the legacy duty. It falls with peculiar severity upon families with scanty incomes, and it cruelly aggra vates the calamity they may have sustained, in the loss of a parent, whose industry, w h en li v i ng , was their main support. It is, besides, repeatedly evaded and it is apparently beyond the reach of fiscal ingenuity to prevent or detect the evasion. At any rate, the re missness with which this acknowledged fraud upon the revenue is regarded and visited, while the amount sup plied to Government falls avowedly so far shot of what is due, sufficiently proves that it is in all eyes a con fessedly obnoxious and unjust tax. We have been led to this topic by the appearance of a Parliamentary paper respecting " taxes on succession to property abroad," which is chiefly valuable as showing how this question is treated in foreign countries. According to this report, it seems that in almost all states where the legacy duty is charged (and several are entirely exempt from it), there is no difference made in the species of property upon which it is levied; and even in France, where such distinction exists, the heavier load is placed upon im moveable property. The land, i therefore, in the latter kingdom supports the larger share of this burden; and it is one of the inexplicable problems of our own Constitution that the reverse prevails among us. Upon what strange plea this difference has been established, it is hard to say; but it is much harder to defend the cus tom by any sophistries which the landed proprietors can produce on its behalf. In Prussia, Holland, Saxony, Sweden, and Tuscany, all property is equally and in differently affected by the tax on succession. Each pays its part, and the tax falls fairly upon all members of the community. There is nowhere a privileged exemption for any one favoured class ; but while the necessities of the Exchequer are thought to require the aid of this measure, no cause of complaint of inequality or injustice can attend the infliction of it. Our Legislature, then, has yet something to learn as to the duty of equalising those branches of the revenue which depend wholly upon the contributions of the people, and in this instance most particularly. That the land should be discharged of payment, and that personalty alone should be respon sible, seems a forced and unnatural condition of things, and one that we certainly hope will not be allowed to continue long—not longer, at least, than will give time for a candid admission of the merits of the question among men of all parties in Parliament. There is one very pleasing instance of the unwillingness of a Sovereign to approach this source of revenue in the pages before us, which gives additional weight to the argument against its imposition in any country, and which, we think, will gratify our readers. In the En closure 3, No. 14 (from Sardinia, where the succession to real property only is affected), is is stated, in excuse for the imposition of the tax, that—" The extraordinary necessities in which the late disturbances have placed the Royal Treasury render inevitable extraordinary dis positions for augmenting the receipts thereof, and for equalising them with the expenses, the amount of which has been considerably increased by those disorders, either on their own account, or on account of the con sequences which they bring with them. His Majesty being obliged to authorise an act, which is, however, re pugnant to his paternal feelings, has ordered us to render it as little burdensome as possible to his beloved subjects." So much expressed repugnance to adopt the measure, except from imperious necessity, shows how distasteful it is generally, and how freely the objections to its collec tion are recognised even by an almost absolute Monarch. This hint will not, we hope, be lost on those at whose command these returns were printed, and for whose special information they are intended. We trust they will brar some fruit in the soil on which they have fallen, and that the experience and usage of foreigners will not be entirely despised in framing future statutes respecting the tax that we have been discussing. No good reason can there be why one species of inheritance should be absolutely aid in its degree exempt from the costs to . which others are subjected, but there is every reason why, in a well-ordered and paternal Government, the pressure of taxation should descend impartially and equitably on alL—Times. RAILWAY FROM NEWCASTLE TO BERWICK. NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE, THURSDAY. —A special meet ing of the town council of this borough was held yester day in the Guildhall, for the purpose of assenting to, or dissenting from, the formation of certain railways pro posed to pass through the town of Newcastle. There was a very full attendance of members. On the assembling of the council, the Mayor took the chair, and the Chairman of the Town Improvement Com mittee, on whom had been imposed the duty of collecting information on the subject of railways proposed to pass through the town, presented a report, entering very fully into the merits of the respective projects. The line pro posed by Mr. Stephenson, the report observes, is called the Newcastle and Berwick Railway, and it is intended to cross the river Tyne by a bridge, at au elevation of upwards of one hundred feet above high-water mark, and about ninety yards west of the present bridge. One of the leading features of this line is, that it unites all tha railway stations in one place, near Melville-street, from whence the traveller may proceed by railway north, south, east, and west. The other line is projected by Mr. Brunel. It crosses the river by a bridge ninety-three feet in height, pro ceeds across the Forth to Thornton-street, and thence by a tunnel, 2,410 yards in length, to the Town-moor, ter minating in Jesmond-fields, from whence it takes its departure northward. The Committee recommended Mr. Stephenson's line, as most desirable for the interests of the town ; they sug gested, however, that a clause be inserted in the Act of Parliament requiring tLe Company to commence with the bridge simultaneously with the other works upon the line, and proceed with all reasonable dispatch in its completion. A long discussion followed the reading of the re port, which was at length confirmed by a large majo rity, so that the corporation of Newcastle have now pledged themselves to support Mr. Stephenson and Mr. Hudson's line from Newcastle to Berwick-upon-Tweed, in opposition to the atmospheric line proposed by Lord Howick. SUPPOSED MURDER of MTh MAY. Yesterday Mr. Baker held an inquest at the City of Paris, Bishop Bonner's-fields, Bethnal-green, on the body of Mr. W. May, aged forty-four, silk manufac turer, of King-street, Old Ford-lane. The evidence condensed showed that the deceased bad been missing since the 9th of last December, and his body was not found until Thursday night last, when it was discovered i❑ the Regent's Canal, between Bonner hall-bridge and the new union workhouse. When deceased was seen last alive he had in his possession several sovereigns—when found he bad but one. The body was found a mile distant from his house, and in an opposite direction, and his hat and a handker chief more than a mile from the canal, and: some bills belonging to him at a quarter of a mile from his home. He usually carried a snuff-box and spectacles in his pockets, but they were hot found on him-after death. The Coroner said that the finding of property belonging to deceased in sueh opposite directions, and so far apart, gave the case a very mysterious complexion. Mr. J. Salter, a silk manufacturer, who parted with deceased at the Job's Castle, Norton Folgate, on the night of the 9th ult., at eleven o'clock, left him in good spirits, and of sound intellect, and was of opinion that his death was caused by unfair means. Mr. Storey, sur geon, of the Mile-end-road, who had examined the body, found the tongue protruding, several cuts on the forehead, on the right eyebrow, and beneath the same eye. Several of the upper teeth were forced from their sockets and were found loose in the mouth, and there were cuts inside each lip. The left arm was fractured and so were several of the ribs. The witness thought, both from ex ternal and internal appearances, that deceased had been immersed in the water during life, but that the severest of the injuries described had been caused after death, probably by the bottoms of the barges. lie considered it rather a case of suicide than of death from violence on the part of others. It having been proved that de ceased was a sober, sensible man, in prosperous circum stances, the foreman and jury intimated that they could not come to a conscientious conclusion without further evidence. They proposed the adjournment of the in quest for a week. Adjourned accordingly. DONCASTER RACES.—The nominations, which close on the Ist instant, have surpassed, in point of numbers, the expectations of the most sanguine lovers of the turf, and opened a prospect for the future of a more'attractive and gratifying character than has been presented on any former occasion. For the present year, the nominations for the Champagne are 42; for the Two Year Olds, 47; Scarborough Stakes, 8; and for the Gascoigne Stakes, 10. For 1846, the nominations for the St. Leger amounthe to 153, and the Park Hill, 39. There are also 9 fort , Two Year Old Produce, and 8 for the Foal Stakes, 1847 The nominations and 28 for the North of England Produce, are in nominations for the St. Leger of next ye t ar unprece dented in point of numbers; the highest previously,be attributed 1841, being 135. This circumstance The second horse will 1848. to the recent alterations adopted. the stakes, and the receive 300 sovereigns out 1 e u ration which will induce third 100 sovereigns—an a to t come to the post than has a greater number of horses race w a been the case since the period h f.—Doncast the er Gazette. s altered from 25 sous. pp. to 50 HEALTH OF SIR CHARLES METCALFE.—The friends of Sir Charles Met calfe have contradicted the ac count of his health given by the Spectator of Saturday last. Letters have been received in England from his medical attendant, which state that although it is true that he had completely lost the sight of one eye, he was not when the last advices came away in the " immenent danger" described by our weekly Contemporary. Let ters have indeed been received from Sir Charles him self, dated Montreal, December 11, written in his own hand, and in a more cheerful strain than those which had previously been received from him. THE NEW LAMBETH POLICE-couETS.—The new Courts are found to be extremely inconvenient and cold, and until the necessary alterations can be made Mr. Henry and Mr. Norton, the magistrates, have deter mined to hold the Court in one of the rooms of the yri.. vate house in front of the premises in York-row, 4en sington-roacl, PRESENT POSIT lON OF THE ANTI-SLAVERY CAUSE. (From the Anti-Slavery Reporter.) The returning season engages us to take a mo mentary retrospect, and a cursory glance at our pre sent position. During the past year we have seen, with regret, the formation and partial execution, by the British Government, of an extended plan for transporting labourers from Africa and the East to the West India colonies ; but we have to record, with satisfaction, the stand taken by the Government against those pro visions of the colonial ordinances by which the pecu niary burden inseparable from the importation of labourers would have been thrown on the population at large. And we are not altogether without hope that the experimental proof furnished to the Govern ment of the inefficacy in practice of the most skil fully devised regulations for securing the freedom of emigration, and the aggravated mischiefs which are resulting from the vast amount of emigration to Mauritius, may induce an alteration of their course. At home we have witnessed with high satisfaction the introduction into British legislation of a principle of fiscal regulation favouring the produce of i'ree labour, from the practical operation of which we feel warranted in anticipating the happiest effects. The last year exhibits two new features of an en couraging kind in France. On the one hand we have witnessed the origination of a monthly publication, the French Abolitionist, devoted to the cause of eman cipation, and adapted to enlighten and interest the public mind. On the other we have seen the public mind itself for the first time roused to action. The presentation to the Chamber of Deputies of petitions, both numerously and respectably signed by the inha bitants of Paris and Lyons, calling for the imme diate and complete emancipation of the slaves in the French colonies, which took place in the spring of last year, constitutes a new epoch in the history of anti-slavery effort in France ; and the commence ment, as we hope, of a series of efforts which cannot but be crowned with ultimate success. The debate which ensued on those petitions witnessed the conse cration to this great cause of some of the most distin guished talents in that kingdom. In Holland an effort to advance the work of eman cipation has been made by the publication of a peri odical, entitled Contributions to a Knowledge of the Dutch and Foreign Colonies, from the influence of which much good may be expected. And we have some reason to believe that, although no overt mea sure has yet been taken on the subject, the Govern ment is seriously directing its attention to the extinc tion of slavery in the Dutch colonies. Of Sweden, happily, more than this can be said. King Oscar, setting the first example on the part of the crowned heads of Europe, of an act so noble, has sent to the assembled States of that c )untry an inti mation of his desire to emancipate the slaves under his dominion ; and it may be hoped that ways will shortly be found to overcome the practical difficulties of the question. In Denmark, during the past year, an Anti- Slavery Committee has been formed, consisting of highly influential and respectable men. This body have already presented a petition to the assembled States, for. the early abolition of slavery in the Da nish colonies. This petition has, with the full con sent of the Government, been referred to a Committee, whose report upon it is expected with interest. Of Spain we have as usual to speak in terms of regret. It is true that, at the present moment, there is before the Cortes of that country a proposition for annexing new penalties to the prosecution of the slave-trade ; but experience forbids us to hope that such a law, if passed, would prove anything else than a dead letter. In Portugal the same enlightened and patriotic men who in the preceding year brought forward the ques tion of emancipation in the eastern possessions of that country, have, during the past year, renewed the discussion of it; thus doing themselves honour, and authorising an anticipation of success at no distant period. The progress of the cause in the United States, we rejoice to say, is beyond question. The recent Pre sidential election has called into vigorous action the body of abolitionists now known as the Liberty party, and has exhibited a most cheering increase in their numbers and influence. Acquiring the respect of both great parties in the Union, it is not too mu.‘lt to expect that the balance of power may, ere long, be in their hands. Another cheering indication in the United States is the progress of anti-slavery sentiment in ecclesias tical bodies. Very important proceedings have taken place, in relation to slavery, in the Methodist Epis copal Church, in the Presbyterian, and several other communions ; all of them making it evident that the consciences of religious professors are extensively touched by the appeals which have been made to them, and warranting the assurance that the leaven will rapidly leaven the whole lump. It is an additional ground of encouragement, that, after many battles (not fought in vain), the Legisla ture of the United States is at length open to the dis cussion of the great question of slavery; the rule of Congress which required petitions all anti-slavery to be laid on the table, commonly called the gag rule, having, among the earliest acts of the present session, been rescinded. It cannot be doubted that the friends of freedom will avail themselves of the open door thus set before them. We can scarcely think it less than favourable to the anti-slavery cause in the United States, that the pro slavery party have pursued with so much acrimony the system of vexatious prosecution and revengeful punishment, on the charge of aiding slaves to escape ; since these proceedings must tend to awaken universal disgust, and to combine humane persons of all parties in opposition to a system requiring for its support such detestable measures. On the whole, the anti-slavery cause wears, we think, a favourable aspect. The work to which we apply ourselves, indeed, is vast, and the opposing in fluences we have to encounter are both powerful and obstinate. Better elements, however, are in effective operation ; and slavery is everywhere, by the deplor able mischiefs which it produces, aiding their progress. No slave colony is prosperous or contented. We are confident that none can be so; and we believe that, in the end, emancipation will be accepted as the best and only remedy for the many ills inseparabl -aad junct to the institution of slavery. COURT CIRCULAR. WINDSOR, FRIDAY. —The Queen and Prince Al bert took their accustomed walk this morning in the grounds adjoining the Castle. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Princess Alice were taken a carriage airing and a walk for some time this forenoon in Frogmore•gar dens. His Royal Highness Prince Alfred was taken for an airing to-day in the Castle precinct. The Duke and Duchess Sotomayer and the Earl of Aberdeen were prevented from coming to the Castle yesterday evening, but are expected this even ing, on a visit to her Majesty. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent and Lady Fanny Howard joined the royal circle at dinner. The band of the Scots Fusilier Guards was in at tendance at the Castle during dinner, and performed the following pieces : Grand March, "Lucia di Lammermoor"—Donizetti. Ouverture, " Euryanthe "—C. M. Von Weber. Selection, " lion Carlos "—Labietzki. Dalkeith Waltzes—Labietzki. Her Majesty's private band attended after dinner, and performed in the Castle the remainder of the evening. The Duke of Cambridge visited her Royal High. ness the Duchess of Gloucester yesterday, at Glou. tester House. The repairs and decorations of the State Banquet ing-room in St. James's Palace are nearly completed. The ceiling has been painted, and the circular com partments, from which are suspended the gilt chan deliers, have been regilt. The walls have been painted, and the ornamental gilt mouldings of the panels, pilasters, &c., have been cleaned and restored. This magnificent apartment will be used as a waiting room on state occasions at St. James's. The Guard Chambers of the Yeomen Guard, on the south side of the Colour Court, at St. James's, will be repaired and restored; preparations have been already commenced under the superintendence of Mr. Phipps, of the office of Woods, and Mr. Morris, the Clerk of the Works. Archdeacon Maiiot had an interview with Lord Stanley yesterday, in the Colonial-office. Mr. Hudson and a deputation had an interview with the Earl of Dalhousie yesterday, at the office of the Board of Trade. SUPPRESSION OF INCENDIARISM.—A. public meeting was held in the Town Hall, Gainsborough, on Tuesday, at twelve o'clock, for the purpose of forming an associa tion to arrest the progress of incendiarism. Several in fluential landowners and farmers were present, but the meeting was not so numerously attended as might have been expected on such an occasion. The chair was occupied by the Right Hon. Sir John Beckett, Bart. The meeting was unanimous in adopting a resolution to form a district society in Gainsborough for the suppres sion of incendiarism. It was also deemed expedient to confine the operation of the assocation at present to the Lincolnshire side of the Trent. The proposal of a Seeret Committee was also favourably received, who should have power, in case of a fire, to adopt some active measures on the spot, without losing time in sending for advice and authority to the General Committee. No less a sum than 7001. was realised before the meeting separated. The Committee are to meet in the Town-hall, Gains borough on Tuesday next, to report progress and trans act the general business of the association. UNWHOLESOME MEAT.—Wednesday night, a meet ing of salesmen and master butchers, war, held at the King's Arms, Snow-hill, Mr. Moray in the chair, to put down the present practice of certain salesmen in New gate-market, College-market, and Warwick-lane, letting their premises after six o'clock on Saturday night, to certain parties who sold at reduced prices measly pork, " cag mag," and " crokers," to the great injury of the metropolitan butchers, and the detriment of the health of the poor. The Chairman, Messrs. Higham, Hawkins, Atwell, Thorpe, Reignart, and others, exposed the evils complained of. It appeared from those addresses, that a few salesmen let their stalls on Saturday nights to in dividuals who purchased wherever they could get it, dis eased meat, which they sold to the poor at very reduced prices, and thus left the master butchers idle for hours on those nights, as they could not compete with those that imposed the most unwholesome food on the poor, who imaczined that they were getting great bargains. One speaker said that he knew several parties who pur chased measly pork that was returned upon the sales men by master butchers, and which they sold in 61b. pieces for 3d. and 4d. a pound. One of those parties sold in one day 60/. worth of this meat. Another said', that this trade was carried on in the College-market with the greatest impunity, as there was neither clerk or beadle attached to it. A third speaker alluded to the conviction of a vendor of measly pork, who was sen tenced at the last Maidstone Sessions to nine months' I hard labour for that offence. All the speakers declared that they only sought protection to the fair traders, and to guard the poor against being poisoned by unwhole some food. Resolutions were ultimately adopted, pledg ing the meeting to carry out, by every possible means, the objects for which they had been convened. The Secretary read a long list of salesmen and master butchers favourable to those objects; after which thanks were voted to the Chairman, and the meeting broke up. ATTEMTT TO ROB A MAGISTRATE AND CAPTURE OF THE DELINQUENT.—Tuesday last, being the market day at Penrith, in Cumberland, a number of suspicious looking characters were in the town, one of whom was observed by a constable watching and following Joseph Salkeld, Esq., one of the sitting magistrates for Leath Ward, in the same county, which circumstance the con stable communicated to the worthy magistrate. In the evening it was agreed that one constable should go a short distance before and another behind Mr. Salkeld on his way home to Croft House, which is situated about half a mile out of the town. Between seven and eight o'clock, on his going up the back lane towards home, the same individual was standing within the gate of the field leading to Croft House, and Mr. Salkeld, having passed him a short distance, he heard the person fol lowing him, and he begun to run up the field towards home, when the man also ran after him. Mr. Salkeld, finding that he was gaining ground upon him, called out for the assistance of the constables, when one of them, who was secreted behind the wall of the adjoining field, sprang over to Mr. Salkeld's aid, but the villain, on hearing the constable, ran down the field again towards the lane, making his escape, but at nearly the bottom of the field he ran into the open arms of the other constable, who was waiting on the pathway for him. He was a most resolute fellow, and struggled violently. He was taken up to Croft House, where some of the servants knew him, and had seen him a day or two before lurking near the house. He had an accomplice with him, who was seen to go out of the plantation at the lower end of the field, who, no doubt, had been concealed there for the purpose of rendering assistance, if necessary, or of receiving the plunder had the other person succeeded in robbing Mr. Salkeld. On Wednesday the villain was brought before the magistrates at Penrith, but, having been disappointed in carrying his design into effect, and not having committed an assault upon Mr. Salkeld, he was discharged, and banished the town. GREAT PEDESTRIAN MATCH AT NEW YORIC—The great twelve-mile running match for 1,000 dollars to the winner, and 300 to the second man, came off on the 16th ult. Two competitors only started, viz., John Gilder sleeve, of New York, and Thomas Greenhaigh, of Eng land. The former had beaten the latter a short time previously in a race of ten miles, yet Greenhaigh on the toTokhethe match lead a w t ad- m present occasion e d w . as T t h h e e A f a m v o e u r i l t t e n . start ing, and kept it throughout the first eleven miles, when the Englishman, who had kept close at the heels of his opponent the whole distance, made a dash, passed his rival in an instant, kept the lead, and came in first by about thirty yards. The distance was run in 68 min. 48 sec. A four-mile match, for 150 dollars, was also won by an Englishman (Jackson), beating six others ; run in 22 min. 10 sec. EQUITY BUSINESS FOR HILARY TERM.—The amount of business of the Chancery Court for the present term appears to be of an average character with that of the preceding terms of late years. Of appeal cases for hear ing before the Lord Chancellor up to the present period there are 34. Of causes before the Master of the Rolls about 92. Of causes before the Vice-Chanctllor of Eng land 99. Before Vice-Chancellor Knight Bruce therb are 34; and before Vice-Chancellor Wigram 413 ; making a total of 300. TAKING OF FIRE-ARMS.—We are informed on most respectable authority that yeste r day (MondaY) morning, at the hour of nine o'clock, some ruffians, with their faces blackened, entered the house of a farmer named Laurence Creagh, and of a gardner of Mr. Thomas Evans, of Ashroe, on the eastern borders of this county, and carried off fire-arms from both. When will there be an end to this wicked and disgraceful practice, from which no good can possibly arise, but, on the contrary, the most disastrous consequences to all engaged i n Limerick Reporter. BOKHARA PRISONS. The fate of our countrymen, Captain Stoddart and Colonel Conolly, and their long suffering at Bokhara, give melancholy interest to the following account of the prisons of the Amir, by the Russian traveller Khani koff.—" The palace of the Amir, built on a mound (whether natural or artificial I cannot say) having five or six sajenes in height, and about one vent and a half in circuit. It has a square form, and contains about 20,000 square sagmes, or '22 tanaps. On this area are built the houses of the Amir, the Vizir, the Shikh-Aval, the Topchi-Bashi, the Mirza Defterdar, as well as the dwelling of the numerous retinue of the Amir and the above-named grandees ; three mosques ; likewise the Ab-Khaneh, with some dark apartments to preserve water for the Amir during the summer heats, but which are more especially appropriated to state prisoners (dark reservoirs, to keep hue:— u beings in), when they happen to give offence to t!.( ' master; such were, for instance, the Kush-beghi Argaz•.bey. From hence, to the right of the entrance, a corridor leads into another prison, more dreadful than the first, called the Kana-Khaneh, a name which it has received from the swarms of ticks which infest the place, and are reared there on purpose to plague the wretched pri soners. It is stated that in the absence of the latter, some pounds of raw meet are thrown into said to t o the pit to keep the ticks alive. This instituti o n of refined cruelty has probably given rise to t he fabl e of the pit of scorpions, of which acco unts were repeatedly given at Orenburg. The zin dan or dun g eon has two apartments, one called the uppe r and the oth er the lower dungeon. The former consists of sever al courts, with cells for the prisoners ; the latter of a deep pit, at least three fathoms in de p th, into which cul prits are let down by rop es ; food is lowered d own in the same manner. The se p ulchral dam p ness of the placehey insupportable. in generally y nwinter,l Twice go a s wellb a r a e f a oso month tien ; summer,th eand prisoners, t 0 form even a is sad chained in irons, are bro u g ht out of prison to th e reg hi stan, whore the Amir give: his judgment on th o s e w h o are to be executed and those who are to be se t at liberty. T faint idea of the sufferings of these unhappy wretches, o ne must have seen them s t an d' ee ralstanding bare-footed on the snow, the thermometer of Reaumur marking 15 de grees below freezing point, waiting for hours tog ether the appearance of th e C ommander of the Faithful !" Barnsley Linen Trade continues brisk in all its branches ; yet there is no advance in the wages of the weavers, as is the case at other places, which has caused large numbers of journeymen to stay at home, who used to visit Barnsley in the fancy drill season. Householders who have been in the habit of having journeymen, who enabled them to pay their rents at this season, complain much at being unable to procure them.—Sheffield Iris. PUNCH ABROAD.—The old English game of Punch and Judy has found its way to Malta. The first exhibi tion was on Tuesday last; it afforded the Maltese much amusement. The leading character, the favoured Punch, was enveloped in sixty-four yards of her Most Gracious Majesty's duck; he seemed well pleased at the attention he received, particularly from the officers of the squadron, who were attired in full uniform to superintend this funny play. The last act was the " Rogue's March," when Punch took up his bed and walked, determined to enjoy the Christmas festivities.—Malla At the Berkshire Quarter sessions, just concluded, the Earl of Falmouth took the oath, and qualified as a magistrate for the county. The Duke of Rutland was prevented from attend ing the Waltham agricultural meeting on Wednes day last, from a alight indisposition. The Noble Dalt e is 1 still at Belvoir Castle, Ilk 111