The Sun. — London, England, 1844-12-18 00:00:00

upon it the advantage it possesses over other spots, in aaommanding, at a lower price, the luxuries and many of die necessaries of life." We are well aware how very dangerous and impo- Itic a thing it is to interfere with the laws and the language of a people who have long lived contented and happy under a vicious and barbarous system ; nor should we advise such a course if the people of the Channel Islands alone were concerned. But now that these islands are within a few hours' run to London, and, by the aid of steam, within a few hundred 4ninutes sail of Granville and St. Maio and the French :oast—now that thousands and thousands of British inhabitants resort thither for the purpose of business, pleasure, commerce, or with a view to become perma nent residents—now that the acts of the Lieutenant- Governor are questioned and traversed by the Bailli and Jurats, it becomes more than ever necessary to he accurately informed of the nature and constitution Ithose Courts, and the mode of election of those edges with which the inhabitants are so enamoured. Of the constitution and legislature of the islands, Inglis thus speaks : " The constitutions of these islands ought not to be left to the management of their own legislatures. Amend ments are required both in constitution and laws, which trill never be maede by the authorities in either island. It would be absurd, in thesis days, to moot the question ss to the powers of the British Government, or to discuss the question, whether the right of legislation over these islands is vested in the King as Duke of Normandy, or as King of England. It is a favourite o;. , ,inion in the islands, that in cases where the general interests of the empire are in any way connected with the interests of the island—where, in fact, there is a common interest— the British Parliament may interfere; but that in all local matters concerning the interest of the islands solely, legislation lies with the island institutions and the Privy Council. Ido not see the force of this dis tinction: I look upon it to be the duty of the island legislature to legislate for the benefit of the whole em pire ; and if certain changes in the constitution of Jersey or Guernsey would insure greater security to property, =ore certain or cheaper justice, or would even have the effect of diminishing feuds, and of advancing civilisation; nd if there is no hope that the island legislatures will themselves originate these changes, then there is suffi cient gr.,und for the interference of the British Govern ment, and for the adoption of whatever measure; may be sanctioned by the British Parliament. In these ob servations I have Jersey more than Guernsey in view, though I am very far from subscribing to a very general opinion in Guernsey, that there no reform is needed." These observations were written ten years ago, and recent occurrences give them a ten-fold force. Sir Robert Peel may smile, look specious and solemn— enunciate some puling plausibilities—or bring forth, with faithful gestation, some admitted truism, only a century and a half old, dressed up for the occasion in his " richest wardrobe" of euphonious and sounding expletives. He may talk, like his Solicitor-General, of the law of expe-liency, the only law by which he squares his conduct—he may send Sir James Graham to the Privy Council, as the descendant of " John of the bright sword," to interpret the Coutumier de Nor mandie—or tell the " travelled Thane, Athenian Aberdeen," to shroud himself in more than his usual North British reserve—he may tell his Chancellor to crack ribald jokes; but will he come to a Parliamen tary solution of the question at issue, satisfactory to the Lieutenant-Governor of the Channel Islands, or, most material of all, satisfactory to the British people ? We accorded to the British Pranaier the praise which he deserved, for recently appointing a judge in Westminster, Mr. Justice Erle, totally irrespective of party feeling. IVill he sanction a different system in Jersey? where judges, according to Inglis, are thus appointed : The judge is borne into the seat of justice on the shoulders of a party. It is scarcely necessary, I think, for me to enlarge upon the bad effects of this system. The bench, with one or two exceptions, is composed of the most furious partisans ; the court of justice is too often the arena for party feuds ; and it is not impossible, by glancing the eye along the bench, and knowing who are the parties to a suit, to guess with tolerable accuracy what will be the issue. " But this is not the only evil of the system. No qua lification is necessary for being elected to the office of judge. A farmer, a shipowner, a merchant—anybody. may Le seated on the bench by the electors. No pre vious acquaintance with law or usage is required ; no preparatory education, no education of any kind requi site. The electors, generally utterly uneducated them selves, and influenced by the most violent party spirit, cannot be expected to fix upon the best qualified indi viduals ; and thus the bench is alike disqualified by party feeling, and by ignorarce, from exercising that sound and unbiassed judgment which alone gives respect ability to a court of justice." These are the men who have often to decide on British property, amounting to thousands of pounds, and on Briti,h liberty and life, infinitely more valu able than British property. The case of Mr. Wilson is so recent as to be fresh in the memory of our readers ; but that is by no means the only case. Inglis cites the following instance of oppression which occurred ten years ago : "It is but lately that a girl was imprisoned, charged with some inconsiderable offence, by the authority of some police-officer. There she remained nine months, at the end of which time, upon the representation of one of his Majesty's receivers-general (for be it recol lected, that the maintenance of prisoners forms a deduc tion from the King's revenues), the girl was brought up for trial, or rather fur accusation. There was no accuser —no charge—the cause even of her imprisonment was unknown, and she was discharged." The English reader will naturally inquire into the constitution and composition of courts which not only refuse obedience to the Queen's writs, but set her military governor at defiance. We are told by one authority, Lecras on the laws of Jersey, that bailli and jurats are so unacquainted with their duties, " That they suspend their judgments in order to con sult a party on the framing of them, and alter and re voke them after they have been delivered, and that they sometimes prepare these judgments before the trials are heard, as was the case in the prosecution of the Crown at the instance of the late Lieutenant-Governor, Major- General Thornton, v. Le Breton, colonel of Militia, when one of the jurats, after the pleadings were closed, pro duced a judgment already written, which was adopted by the bailiff and jurats, and rendered against the said Lieutenant-Governor." We are also told by the same authority, that per• sons are seized without oath and warrant, and tha Dlssenters, notwithstanding recent statutes in their favour in England, labour under great disabilities in the islands. Mr. Inglis thus shortly describes the constitution of the Court, and the restrictions placed upon the bar : " Attached to the Royal Court are the King's two officers, the I'rocureur du Roi and the King's Advocate, who are appointed by the King ; several other officers, and six advocates, who are in the nomination of the bailly—an absurd and unjust nomination, both as regards the public service and the manner of appointment. There ought to be no restriction upon the bar, ex cepting that which depends upon competency ; and yet, in this important particular, there is at present no regu lation. No co.irse of education is necessary—no axami nation is required ; all is left to the judgment of the bailly, who, possessed of such powers, and presiding over a court comprised of men without legal education, ought to be a man possessed of many acquirements, and distin guished by a sound and discriminating judgment." In another passage he thus speaks : " So long as the present mode of cons ituting the bench be maintained, the spirit of faction will continue to exercise its despotism; and ignorance and partiality will impede the course of justice. From the island legis latore nothing is to be hoped; it is in vain to imagine that the twelve judges and the twelve rectors v. ill accede to any proposition fur excluding themselves from the legislative body." Surely this is a system which cannot be allowed to continue longer. We had intended to have made some obiervations to-day on the folly of governing these islands, in the nineteenth century, according to the provisions of laws made in OK! twelfth and fourteenth centuries ; but these observations, together with so i e others in reference to the same subject, must be reserved for another occasion. DEAFNESS—ACOUSTIC INSTRUMENTS.-39, Albe marle•street, Piccadilly.—lnvisible Voice Conductors, when fixed in the cavity of the ears, are not more uncom fortable nor perceptible than having a small piece of wool in its place. They enable individuals at an ad vanced age, and of forty or fifty years' standing of ex treme deafness, instantly to join in general conversation, and to catch the sound of a distant, low speaker, at church, theatre, fee. They pour the conversation into the ears to such an extent, that in most severe cases deafness eaenot be observed. Also original Ear Cur nets, French, German, and Spain it Artificial Ears, and improved Hearing Trumpets of every description. Many of those instruments have received the approbation of the Royal Society and Royal Institution of Great Bri tain. The Newly Invented Spectacles, immediately they are placed before extremely imperfect vision, it is brought to its youthful,' natural, and original state. Also Achromatic Telescopes, Opera-glasses, Micro scopes, &c.—Caution : Messrs. S. and B. Solomons, Opticians and Aurists, are not in any way connected with a person of the same name in their immediate neigh bourhood, nor in any part of the country. To prevent mistakes, be cautious, and observe—Only to be had at 89. Albemarle-street, Piccadilly, opposite the York Hotel. FATAL ACCIDENT IN TIIREADNE EDLE- STREET. — Last evening, about half-past five o'clock, a van belong ing to a Mr. Maynard, carrier, of Barking, was proceed ing up Threadneedle-street, towards Bishopsgate-street, when the right hind wheel came in contact with a quan tity of paving stones. At the same moment a truck, drawn by a pce)r"mten, in the employ of Mr. Stevens, of Minerva -street, Hackney-mid, was passing the vehicle on the, other side, and, in consequence of the wheel passing over the stones, the van was completely canted over on to the unfortunate man, throwing out at the same time a lad, named Chalk, with much violence into the road, wh o was seated with the driver.' On the cart being lifted up, the ill-fated man Nvas found dreadf u lly mutilated about th e h ead. Ile was promptly Llarth removed on a stretcher, as al so t h e lad, tos hospital, but on arrivin g th ere he was found otloonaw's breathed his last. As regard s t h e boy, - 4 is sadly feared that he has sustained some serious Internal hurt. Th e driver of the van was itntnediately taken into custody by the police, and will be examined this day before the Lord Mayor. THEATRE ROYAL, ADELPHI. NOTICE. THIS EVENIN 4 will beprOdUced, by the especial permission of Charles Dickens, Esq., THE CHIMES; A Goblin Story of Same Bells that Rang an Old Year Out and a New Year In. - The Scenery from the Ori4inal Sketches of Dan'el Maclise, R.A , Clarkson Stanfield, R.A., John Leech, and R. Doyle. The Story Dramatised by Mark Lemon and Gilbert A'Beckett. PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET. LESSEE, Mr. J. M. MADDOX. THIS EVENING, DECEMBER Will be repeated a New Comic Opera, entitled THE CASTLE OF AYMON; or, The Four Brothers. Baron de Beamanotr, Mr. Walton; Olivier, Mr. Allen; Allard, Mr. C. Horn, Jun. ; Richard, Mr. lime ; Rc.iaud, Mr. Mattacks; hoe, Mr. bailer ; Hermine, Mdlle. Helen Condell ; Gertrude , Mrs. Foabroke. To conclude with THE RENT DAY. Martin Heywood, Mr. Wa'lack ; Bullfrog, Mr. Compton • Rachel Heywood, Mrs. Stirling. Stage Manager, Mr. H. I. Wallack. Stage Director, Mr. Emden, Machinist, Mr. Edmund BradwelL Dress Circle, ss. ; Boxes, 4s. ; Pit , 2s. ; Gallo Is. Half. price at Nine o'clock—Dress Circle, 2s. 6d. ; Boxes, 21. ; Pit, ls.; Gallery, 6d. Private Boxes, Two Guineas and One Guinea and a-Half ; Prosce alum Boxes, Two guineas and a-H a lf. Doors to be opened at Half. azot Six, and the Performances to commence at Seven o'clock. The Bex-ottice, under the direction of Mr. W. Massingham. Private Boxes and Free Admissions for the Season to be had at the Theatre. I ILT.A.TRE ROYAL LYCEUM, LATE ENGLISH OPERA HOUSE. Under the Management of Mrs. KEELEY The Re-engagement of Signor Camillo vori for Three Nights more—To-morrow, Friday, and Saturday. THIS EVENING, DEC&MBr:R le, Will be repeated a New Farce, called A TRIP TO KISSINGEN. Characters by Messrs. Wigan, Kin och, Stanton, Collier, Yamokl, burner, Stoker, and Kerley, Mrs. Wigan and Mrs. Keeley. Atter which, a New Farce, called TO PERSONS ABOUT TO MARRY. Supported by Messrs. F. Mathews, Meadows ,and Stoker, Miss Arden, Mrs. Wigan, and Mrs. Woollidge. In be followed by THE SWISS COTTAGE. Characters by Messrs. Wigan, itrnold, Keeley, and Mrs. Keeley. In the course of the Evening A DIVERTISSEMENT, in which Jullien's Mazurka and Cellarius Valse will be danced by Mdlles. Louise and Adele, Miss James, and Mt-s Fairbrother. To conclude with a New Comedietta, entitled WATCH AND WARD. The characters by Messrs. F. Mathews, Kinloch, and A. Wigan; Miss Fairbrother, and Mrs. A. Wigan, PRICES OF ADM lSslON.—Balcony Boxes. 41.• Upper Mixes, 35.; Pit 2.. ; Gallery, Second Price—Balcony B oxes, 2s. ; Upoer Boxes, Is. tid.; Pit, ls. Private Boxes on the ii-iinony Tier tol ling eight persons), Two Guineas. Private Boxes on the Second Tier (holding eight persons), One Guinea and a-Half. Private B , xes on the Pit Fier (holding six persons), One Ouirea. Box.office is open from Ten to Four o'Clock, under the direc tion of Mr. Grogan, late of Covent-garden Theatre. Great attraction every Evening— Squiroßatty's Hounds meet This Eveniag, at ASTLF.Y'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE OF ARTS. Preprietor and Manager, Mr. W. BATTY. THIS EVENING, DECEMBER IS, Will he repeated a New Speztacle, entitled THE ROYAL FOX HUNT; or, The Race-Hone and Life's Course of Man and Steed ; intr , ducing unequalled Natioi al Fetes. Real Fox-chase on the Stage and in the Circle by living Fox and real Pack of Hounds, purchased y Mr. Batty of Mr Tattersall, to valise this novel production. Epsom Races and other Sporting Features. New Scenes of the Circle, and entire change in the Feats of Horse m2nship. 7. _ _ The First Week of the extraordinary B•itish Vaultar and Somersault Thrower, Mr Price, and Master Charles Price, the Little Equestrian Wonder, and other Norelt es. Acting and stage-mmager, Mr. W. D. Broadfoot, Box-office open from Eleven till Five. Lessons in the Art of Riding Mr, R. Smith daily. Mr. BATTY begs to a-quaint the Nobility, Gentry, and his Patrons, that, in compliAnce with numerous requests from the country, and by special desire, he has formed ar anrements to pre.. sent, during the Christmas Holiday. ' a S rics of EQUESTRIAN MORNINO FETES and FASHIO NABLE DAY PERFORM. A NCE, to commence at Half-past One, and terminate at Half-past Three : consisting of Batty's Splendid Scenes of Equitation in the Circle. The first Three Morning Performances will take place on Mcnday, Dec. 31, Wednesday, Jas. 2, and Fr dey, Jan. 4. THE WEATHER.-SUN OFFICE, DEC. 18. NERMOMETER, Lowest, 36 ; Highest, 42 ; Noon, 42. BAROMETER, E.S.E. Nom—The figures which follow the words "Lowest" and " Highest" denote the lowest and highest state of the Thermometer during the preceding twenty-four hours. All the other observations are made at noon. 'Water freezes at 32 ; 55 on Thermometers is marked "Temperate," and on Barometers "Fair" is generally placed opposite to 30, and Rain" at 29 ; but there is no certainty of dry weather when the mercury falls below 30. O LONDON, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER Is, 1844. We quote the following remarkable passsage from he Post of this morning :—" Will the landowners of England still refuse to learn wisdom:from experience? Will they still support that insane policy which is undermining their social position, and sweeping away their natural supporters into the abyss of ruin ? Landowners are unwilling to break with the Minister of their choice. The alternative, however, will not long be left to them. The Minister mill, at no distant dote, break with them 1 Day by day the farmer chosen Minister draws nearer to the ranks of the free traders I Very soon will landowners be compelled, openly, to adopt the principles of the League, or to look out for new leaders." There is a world of truth in this prediction of our Contemporary, which is wrung from him, as it were, in very bitterness of spirit. The day, indeed, is not distant when Sir ROBERT PEEL, true to that system of expediency which has always governed, and will always continue to govern, his every action, will break fully and completely with the Conservative landowners, and carry out into prac tice those principles of free trade which he has long since declared to be the principles of common sense. He sees the direction which the stream of public opin'on is taking, and though he may for a time make head against it, he has quite sufficient sagacity to foresee that it will in the end overwhelm him, unless he allow himself to be borne quietly onward with the current. Ile is quite aware that the question of free trade is one only of time; that it is a great national necessity which, year by year, is bits• coming more and more apparent ; that the Anti-Corn-law League is nothing more than the ex pression of this necessity, and is only popular be cause it expresses it with emphasis and particularity; and our chief complaint against Sir ROBERT PEEL is, that knowing all this—knowing that no party nor combination of parties can protract much longer the full and perfect triumph of the free-trade system, he refuses to make the concession, while yet it is in his power to concede with grace. He is evidently de sirous to play over again the old game of the Tes and Corporation Acts—that is to say, to make a show of resistance to the last moment, long after conviction has flashed upon his mind, and yield only to the irre sitible pressure of necessity. And wherefore this? Simply in order that he may for a brief while longer secure the support of the Conservatives, whom he cannot find it in his heart to break with, just at present, notwithstanding that he has no sympathy with many of their principles and prejudices, and knows that the hour of his final separation from them is at hand. There is, to our thinking, something ex ceedingly petty in this indecision and temporising. It is very unworthy of the character of the first Mi- nister of the first commercial kingdom in the world. Far better would it be for the Premier's reputation ..... as a statesman, that he should do at once what must eventually be done, and do it in a graceful, instead of a churlish . and reluctant, spirit. But Sir ROBERT PEEL is not a Minister of an enlarged or generous THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 1 Now ready, at all the Libraries, T HE COUNTESS of BLESSINGTON'S NEW NOVEL. " STRATTIERN; OR, LIFE AT HOME AND ABROAD;" A STORY OF THE PRESENT DAY. henry Colburn, Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough-street. On Saturday, January 4, 1845, will be Published the First Number f a New Weekly Newspaper, price 6d., under the title of y - ouNG ENGLAND; OR, THE SOCIAL CONDITION OF THE EMPIRE. All Communications, Letters, and Books for the Editor, are re quested to be addressed to Richard Bentley, 8, New Burlington-street. Office of " Young England," No. 2. York-street, Covent-garden, where Advertisements should be forwarded immediately to secure in sertion. * 4 * Orders received by all News agents and Booksellers through out the United Kingdom. ROYAL.THEATRE DRURY-LANE. THIS EVENING, DECEMBER IS, Will be repeated a Grand Opera Sella, called THE DAUGHTER OF ST. MARK. Lnsignano, Mr. Burdini ; Andrea Corner., Mr. Borrani ; Moncenigo, Mr. Weiss Adolphe de Courcy, Mr. W. Harrison ; Catarina Cornaro, Miss h ainforth To conclude with the celebrated Ballet of THE PERI. Achmet, M. Desplaces ; The Peri, Mdlle. Plunkett; Nourmahal, O'Bryan ; Aysba, Mrs. Payne. The Box.omce is open daily, from Ten in the Morning until Six sn the Evening, where Private and Family Boxes, Stalls, Places, aid Tickets may be had on application to Mr. John Parsons. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARLET. Lessee, Mr. B.WEBSTER. THIS EVENING, DECEMBER IS, Will be performed a New and Original Comedy, in Five Acts, cared OLD HEADS AND YOUNG HEARTS. Colonel Rocket air. S rickland ; Littleton Coke, Mr. Charles Mathe , . s ; Ton Coke Mr. Webster; Bob, Mr Buckstone; Jesse Rural, Mr. W. Farren; the Countess of I birpion, Mrs. W. Clifford; Lady Alice Hawthorn Madame Vestris ; Miss Rocket, Miss Julia f , ennett. Alter which, will be repeated a New Comic Drama, entitled SOMEBODY ELSE. Hans Moritz, M . Charles Mathews; Minnie, .dadame Vestris. To be followed by a New and Original Farce, called YOUNG N(4 LA ND Major Mar;inet, Mr. Strickland; Mr. John James Poolcy, Mr. Buckstona ; Mrs. P,olev, Mrs. Humby. Private Boxes, Two Guineas and One Guinea and a-Half each. rickets and Places to be had of Mr. 1. T. Ar cher, at the Box-office, from len till Five o'Clack. THEATRE ROYAL, ADELPHI. Under the Direction of Madame CELESTE. THIS EVENING, DECEMBER lA, Will be produced (by special permission of Charles Dickens, Esq.) a New Drama, entitled THE CHIMES. A Goblin Story of Some Bells that Rang an Old Year Out and a New Year In. Toby deck, Mr. 0. Smith ; Aldersn a n Cute, M r . W r i g h t; T ug by, M r . Wilkin son ; S.r Joseph Bowley, Bart , Mr. Paul Bedford ; Will Fern, Mr. Hudson; Richard, Mr. Selby; Meggy Vcck, Miss Fortcscue; Mrs. ' Chickenstalk2r Mrs. Frank Matthews. After which a New Prams, entitled THE MYSTERIOUS STRANGER. Count Henry de Beausoleil, Mr. Hudson ; Count ganille, Mr Selby; The Mysteri o us Str a n ge r, M a d a me Celeste ; Crequet, , Mr. Wright; Chechore, Mr. 0. Smith. To conclude with THE UNFINISHED GENTLEMAN, to which Messrs. Wright, Selby, and Miss Woolgar will perform. Prompter, Mr. Gailot ; Principal Painter, 'tr. Pitt; Leader of the Ban,t, Mr. Mellon.—Box—octice open from Eleven till Four. Private Boxes to be had at the Theatre, and at all the principal Libraries. HIGH WATER. AT LONDON.BRIDGE THIS DAY. 'tat rang ... 19 minutes after 8 f Evening ... 51 minutes after 8 turn of mind. He has nothing of the CHATHAM or CANNING in his nature. He adopts popular measures, not from conviction, but on compulsion. He is inac cessible to lofty and fervid impulses, and must be as sailed on the side of his apprehensions. Above all things, he is the slave of precedent, and shrinks aghast from the idea of originating anything for which he has not some sort of warrant from the past. It is this marked trait in his political character that induces many people to give him credit for being a safe Minister; but such people should bear in mind that there are times and seasons when the boldest and most decided course of policy is also the safest that can be pursued. Such a period is the present, for there is no question that the Premier's constant habit of shilly-shallying on the subject of free trade, at one moment giving it his direct counte nance, at another repudiating the system, as uncalled for by existing circumstances, merely in order to keep himself for a short time longer in fa vour with the Conservatives ;—there is no question, we say, that this favourite habit, on tRe part of Sir ROBERT PEEL, of playing fast-and-loose with free trade, is daily tending more and more to unsettle men's minds ; to engender in them a dis trust of Government and its policy; and by so doing, to affect in no inconsider able or remote degree, all the great commercial interests of the country. And'are the Conservatives grateful to the Premier for this temporising course of policy ? Certainly not. They see clearly enough that it must ere long have an end, and already they dislike their leader quite as much as they would do, were he at once to cut all connexion with them, thro w himself into the arms of the Liberals, and publicly proclaim his adhesion to the principles of free trade. From the acceunts we have recently published of the release of the gigantic " GREAT BRITAIN" from Cumberland Basin in the Bristol Docks, our readers will have learned, with pleasure, that the mightiest ship in the world is now a free denizen upon her des tined element. This stupendous production of mer cantile enterprise and mechanical science at length walks the waters " like a thing of life." Long may it be her lot to attract the admiration of the civilised world in general—the wonder and respect of the nautical profess ion in particular —as the marvellous embediment of the daring pro ject of her builders. They aspired to pro duce a specimen of steam-ship building that should be matchless in its dimensions, its capacity, and its velocity of motion. They have accomplished even more. With the working of her " Archimedean screw" she can run, it seems, from eleven .to twelve knots an hour, not stretching a yard of her canvass. Her mighty fabric is said to be unaffected by the vibration of the steam-engines which work that colossal propelling power, and the passengers in her spacious cabins can scarcely detect the momentum of her speed. In less than seventeen traversings of her deck from stem to stern, the astonished voyager will have paced one mile; and between two and three of our old 36-gun frigates would represent no more than her own single stowage of more than 3,500 tons ! What performances may not be antici pated from such powers and such means, working with all the ease, celerity, and precision, which the late trial-run demonstrated the Great Britain to pos sess ! To what increased facilities and rapidity of transit from and to the remotest regions, under gua rantees how much enhanced for the safety of those whose calling it is "to tempt the trackless deep," may we not be justified in looking forward, after this test of a vessel thus stupendous in her construction ! The whole human race, perhaps—but assuredly the great maritime and commercial Powers of the world —may be considered as deeply interested in the memorable and successful result of the experiment we refer to. We make no apology for recurring to it, and the rather as we have, of late, so frequently had occasion to direct public attention to the progress of naval architecture in another branch of that science— namely, the construction of our ships of war. I'Ve have no disposition to revive the controversy which has been so long and warmly maintained be tween the advocates of the Surveyor of the Navy's intuitive-principle" of ship-building, and the stick lers for the canons and practice of naval architecture according to the matured state of our experience in the actual construction of ships. Yet we are grati fied to learn, on the authority of our vigilant Con temporary, the Plymouth Times (to whose strictures on this very important subject we hold that the coun try at large is very much indebted), that the Admi ralty have given orders to suspend for the present the building of any more ships on the principle s adopted in the construction of the Queen (110) and the Albion (90). The time has come, we trust, at which the judgment and ex perience of the acting Lords will induce them to return to the adoption of such noble models of the old school, but with all the improvements of modern science and observation, as the Neptune and other such three-deckers. But having already expressed our reprobation of everything like favouritism in ad ministering such vital interests as those wherewith the Admiralty have to deal, we must enter a very brief plea for their adoption of tried improvements and certified inventions, having for their object to supply existing deficiencies in nautical mechanism, ra ther than in nautical science. We are anxious, in respect of one of the most extraordinary of these improvements and inventions —the (as it appears to us) invaluable " Ship Manceuvrer" of Mr. ROBERT FOULESTON—tO learn the number of her MAJESTY'S ships to which it has yet been applied ? By this " Manoeuvrer," as it is shown by the abundant docu mentary papers and certificates just published by its ingenious inventor, "a ship's head may be directed at all times to any point required." The Earl of DUNDONNALD, Captains T. BENNETT, Sir W. DILLON, W. H. SMITH, Sir THOMAS HASTINGS and F. BEECIIEY, R.N., Commanders MILES, CRAU FURD, W. BROWNE, R. RICHARDSON, J. BAILEY, R.N., Lieutenants BALLET, M. COMBE, .1. BIL LINGSLEY, HUGHES, T. CAREY, HENRY BUTT, JAMES CLARKE, R. J. JEFFREYS, J. WILLIAMS, ALFRED MILES, R.N., and Master SYMONDS, R.N.—all attest their unqualified satisfaction with its properties. There are succinctly de scribed by Mr. FOULESTON himself :—" The power of immediately turning a ship, so as to direct her head to any given point, independently of the rudder and sails, has long been felt to be a desidera tum by practical seamen. This want is supplied by the present invention, the principal advantages of which Ire its simplicity; its general applicability; the prompt means, both of attack and defence, it affords to engagements ; its security from cannon shot ; and the facility with which it may be made to subserve any other means that are now used for steering. The invention consists in a powerful screw, secured within a tube, and fixed (out of reach of cannon shot) in the dead wood of a vessel's stern, at right angles to the keel. It is worked by a capstan, operating on a ver tical spindle, which communicates by means of a bevel wheel and pinion, with a horizontal shaft, into which the pinion is keyed to the screw. They, acted upon by the capstan and their accessories." We shall endeavour in a day or two to find room for some ex tracts from the pamphlet whence we extract this description. Accounts from Madrid of the 10th state that p w l e a r c e e d m cankincag pigrilaeat(ienfrortthsetochapel Colonel R EUJEFO, GARCIA, and ARI ). procure a z , T r. ch .4. oemi hrmaduf r rindse n ds of the cee di ng s e ; n f t o e r n c N e, with E z a , p d p e a s r p e i n t e t l y t h l e i t r tl e e pr h e s o e p n e t a t o i f o nssu of f - Mr. BULWER and the Count DE 13aussox, seems de termined upon more slaughter, or examples, as he terms his butcheries. We are inclined, however, to believe the statement in the French Government papers, that they had been pardoned. We find no news of importance in the papers. The cold at Madrid on the Bth was excessively severe. At Bayonne the thermometer had stood as low as 24, and vast quantities of snow had fallen along the frontier. MADRID BOURSE, DEC. 10.—The Three per Cents. are 1 per cent. higher to-day, and transac tions to the amount of 127,000,000 of reals took place ; they closed at 32,t at 60 days. Five per Cents. 21k at 60 days; Floating Debt 74 for 18th instant; Coupons 25 at 60 days The sudden departure of Sir STRATFORD CANNING from Constantinople gives rise to several conjectures in the Paris papers. Some infer that it is a mere jaunt of pleasure, and others that a serious misunder standing has taken place between the Porte and the British Ambassador, and that he has demanded his passports. It appears, however, from the statements in these papers that there is little foundation for such rumours. The Smyrna Journal states that the short absence of Sir STRATFORD CANNING is no more than an excursion of pleasure, which he has been in the habit of making every year, and the Journal des De bats, which contains news from Constantinople to the 27th ult., says :—" It appears that the object of Sir S:CANNING'S excursion was to visit the British Con sulates in the Troad, and a desire to ensure the sup ply of provisions which the English station of the Levant required. Sir S. CANNING had passed over to Tenedos on the 23d, and when the last intelligence left was daily expected at Constantinople." M. THIERS' journal, however, takes a different view of the affair, and infers that owing to the little support which the Am bassador received from Lord ABERDEEN, the report merits attention, "not that it is true, but as it proves the truth of an observation we have often made during the affairs of Servia, and which, indeed, has become a general opinion, that the British Ambassador is not sufficiently supported by his own Government, and, therefore, not in a position to obtain any important concession from the Porte." The National has an article on jobbing in railway shares and on the nature of the contracts entered into by the Government with the different companies, which it considers too favour able to the latter. It states that the conditional pro mises of shares in the Northern line are sold at a pre tnium of 40f. each, that the shares of the intended line from Amiens to Boulogne are at 180 f. premium, those of Orleans to Bordeaux 130 f, Vierzon 2301., Rouen to Havre 293 f., and Avignon to Marseilles 4271. The National observes that, upon the shares of the Paris and Rouen line, which is in action, the shares are at a premium of 530 f., and those of the Paris and Orleans line, also in action, 600 fr" The Journal des Debuts announces on the authority ef a letter from Madrid of the 10th, that the Q ueen of SPAIN has gra n t e d a pardon to Colonel REUGIFO, Captain GARCIA, and Don MANUEL ARILLA, who had been condemned to death by a court-martial, and then adds :—" This act of clemency and royal generosity does honour to the Spanish Government, andis, in the present state of disturbance, both a proof of courage and of strength. Such acts do more to insure the duration of a government and the peace of a kingdom than those which we have been lately obliged to condemn, and we hope that they are only the augury of a really humane and liberal policy." We can see no proof either of courage or strength in such a course. These men were unjustly condemned. and NARVAEZ would have carried the sentence into effect but for the fear of universal execration. The following extract of a Madrid letter in the National forms a strong contrast to this proof of courage and strength : " Each day brings us the news of some massacre. The Government was not quite satisfied with having shot Zurbano's brother-in-law and son ; it has also shot mother, and with them all the victims taken with arms .n their hands, or without them.' All this is done with out trial, and on the simple proof of their identity. They have just shot twelve men in Arragon ; it is the begin ning of a butchery which will pot stop there. General Don Pedro Ramirez, 75 years of age, and who reckons 65 years' services, had the imprudence to make some representations to the Government on all these acts of barbarity, and at once he was arrested, and taken by a file of soldiers to the eastello of Cadiz, where he is to be embarked in the first vessel for the Canaries. Prison first, exile next—such is the fate reserved for the oldest and most faithful servants of the State." The ConstituVonnel makes these remarks on the announcement of the Siecle, that the King of PRUSSIA is about to give a Representative Constitu tion to his people : " The Slecleinnounces that the King of Prussia is about to give a Constitution to his States, and has al ready o ffi cially communicated his intentions to the other European. Cabinets. According to all the information we have received from time to time from B er li n, th i s news is at least premat ure , The King of Prussia, it is true, long ago though/ of giving a Constitution to his people, and he has beftowed great labour on the project; but nothing has yet appeared to show that the work is completed, and that the population of Prussia is on the point of seeing its present govern ment transform e d i nto a representative gover nmen t. it - is certain that between the elaboyation of a Constitution, in the leisure hours of a Cabinet, and its public promulgation, there must be a long interval. There is no doubt, however, that at a period more or less remote, and under divers forms, the representative system will be extended to nearly all civilised States. Prussia, that - enlightened, wise, and inquiring nation, the lover of cc-Istroveray, will certainly be one of the first to adopt a - .node of government founded upon free discussion. I .:',ut whether her King will take the initiative, is very problematical." THIS DAY'S NEWS PRIVY COUNCII4.-(THIS DAY.) The Committee of the Privy Council for the affairs of Guernsey and Jersey sat to-day, at the Council-office Whitehall, for the purpose of bearing the further argu ments in the part-heard case with respect to the course pursued by the Lieutenant-Governor of Guernsey. Mr. WADnisoTox resumed his arguments on behalf of the Crown, and in support of the Lieutenant-Go vernor; and occupied their Lordships the whole morning. 4 ; 1 1 , SW T :71 44 0 . ri;;;" irt4o:-; : lrair:74z4llW • 4:- . r)hi,Jl ‘ ,. 6 61 4. "•;;V.." - ,„ 'sot& SECOND EDITION. VICE-CHANCERY.-(THIS DAY.) (Before Sir J. WiGn.ot.) His HONOUR was engaged hearing motions, the argu. ments on one of them alone occupying the whole morn ing. It was a motion for an injunction of the Court to restrain a glove-maker named Thompson from infring ing a patent possessed by the plaintiff f or cu tti ng - out pieces of leather used in glove-making, of a triangular shape, called fourchettes, which are inserted between the finger-pieces. This patent, it was alleged, Mr. Thomp son had invaded ; the affidavits were numerous, and se veral cuttings of leather were produced as exhibits. On the part of the defentlaat it was contended that there was no novelty in the invention, and that it was not such a patent as could be infringed. QUEEN'S BENCH.--(THIS - DAY.) (Sittings at Nisi ?lit.'s at the Guildhall, before Lord DENMAN and London Special Juries.) HAYNE V. RHODES AND OTHERS. This was an action against Messrs. Rhodes, Beauvoir, and Lane, of Chancery-lane, to recover compensation in damages for an alleged negligence of their duties as at torneys, by which the plaintiff had been induced to ad vance 6001. upon insufficient security. Mr. BALL opened the pleadings. Mr. WATSON, in opening the case for the plaintiff, said, that in the year 1839 the plaintiff had seen an ad vertisement for a secretary to some new formed com pany, and had, in consequence, applied to a Mr. George Ross, who informed him that he was projector of a new company for the improvement of Holborn, and that the secret ar y t o t h e new company would have a salary of 4001., which office the plaintiff should have on condition of his advancing to Ross 6001., for the pur pose of forming the company, Ross undertaking to give security for the return of the 6001. in the event of the company not being formed. The security proposed was a reversionary interest, which Ross alleged he possessed in a certain freehold estate at Tittenhall, in Somerset shire. The plaintiff employed the defendants as his attorneys in the transaction, and advanced the 6001. to Ross upon the proposed security. The company was not formed, and when the plaintiff attempted to have re course to his security, it was discovered that it was valueless, inasmuch as the estate in question had been disposed of to the person now in possession before the date of the conveyance to Ross. Evidence having been called to prove the plaintiff's case, ISIT,PLATT (with whom was Mr. Peacock), on the part of the defendants, took various technical objections to the pleadings, which proved' atal, and Lord DENMAN directed the plaintiff to be nonsuited. EXCHEQUER. —(THIS DAY). (Sittings at Guildhall, before the LORD CHIEF BARON and a special jury.) HOLFORD V. /JENNISON. This was an action to recover 1,3721., the balance of an account alleged to be due from the plaintiff to the de fendant. The defendant had put several pleas on the record, the principal of which, however, was the statute of limitations. Mr. Crowder, Q.C., and Mr. Montague Smith ap peared for the plaintiff ; Mr. Sergeant Byles and Mr. Gray for the defendant. The case for the - Plaintiff rested on an agreement, stated to have been entered into between the parties as long ago as 1831, when the defendant having previously acted as clerk to the' plaintiff, commenced business as a broker on his own account. His LORDSIIIP was of opinion that there was nothing to take the case out of the statute of limitations.—Verdict for the defendant. - COMMON - PLEAS.-(THIS DAY.) (Sittings in London.) MANGNALL V. M'ALPINE. The plaintiff's case having closed yesterday, Mr. JARVIS (with whom were Mr. Sergeant Channell and Mr. Web ster), for the defence, proceeded this morning to call witnesses from Glasgow, Paisley, and Barhead, to prove that moveable stenters were in use in Scotland, for the dressing and finishing of various woven fabrics, years before Bridson's patent. The trial will occupy to a late hour, if it be concluded to-day. The case of " Gibbs v. Flight " is peremptorily fixed for to-morrow. CRIMINAL — OURT.—(THIS DAY.) (Before Mr. Justice WIGUTMAN and Mr. Baron RoLFE.) THE BANK OF ENGLAND FORGERY. William Burgess, the young man who stands charged with forging the name of Oxenford to a bank transfer, to defraud the Bank of England of 8,0001., was this morning placed within the dock, in conjunction with several other prisoners, to plead to an indictment preferred against him. The indictment contained as many as six counts, and averred that the prisoner did, on a day past, aid and assist Joseph Elder, or some person unknown, to personate the owner of certain shares of public stock, of the value of 8,2001., with intent to defraud one William Oxenford thereof. In the remaining counts the parties alleged to have been defrauded were the Governor and Company of the Bank of England. The Hon. Stewart Wortley, Q.C., Mr. Adolphus, and Mr. Clarkson appeared for the prosecution ; and Mr. Bodkin and Mr. Charnock for the defence. The prisoner, on being called upon for the purpose, pleaded Not Guilty. Mr. BODKIN then made an application to have the trial postponed till to-morrow morning, on the ground that the prisoner's counsel had not had sufficient time since the delivery of their instructions to examine into the facts and circumstances of the case. The briefs were only delivered late on the preceding Thursday, and the Learned Counsel were therefore quite unpre pared to defend the prisoner at this early period. Mr. STUART Wonnasr urged that sufficient time had been allowed the prisoner to prepare for the defence, and said he was rather surp r i se d that the delivery of the in structions to his Learned Friend had been deferred to so late a period. It would be an inconvenience to the numerous witnesses who were in attendance for the pro secution ; but if their Lordships' assented to the post ponement, of course he could not object to it. Mr. Baron ROLVIC, after consulting with Mr. Justice Wightman, acceded to the application of the prisoner's counsel, and directed the trial to be brought on at ten o'clock to-morrow morning. ,".lIDDLESEX SESSIONS. (Before the AtISISTA.Nr-J11700E.) The Court resumed its sittings this morning at the usual hour, for the disposal of the remaining cases of felony. This day was also appointed for hearing the charges of misdemeanour and indictments fur nuisances. A very respectable-looking young man, named Francis Beggs, was indicted .for stealing a coat, trousers, and other articles of wearing apparel, and a gold ring, the property of Thomas Chaplin. It appeared that a person named Doughty was the proprietor of one of those establishments styled " Tem perance Coffee-rooms," where balls used to be given, and the admission to which was 3d. In his cross-examina tion the prosecutor stated, that although his house was a Temperance-house, yet there were persons who attended at the ball, if they desired a " small drop " of anything stronger than coffee, might, upon handing the money to the waiter, have whatever they wanted brought in to them. The prisoner was one of those who patron ised the Temperance balls, and happened, on the night when the articles named in the indictment were stolen, to be at one of them, when he was perceived to come out of the room where the articles were. Some time after he was accused of the theft, and his lodgings searched, when a . portion of the property was dis covered thexe. Mr. PAYNE, who appeared for the defence, commented strongly upon the evils which arose from those gather ings, which were improperly called temperance balls, where a number of young persons were assembled, and where, although temperance was professed, there was an unlimited supply of spirituous liquors allowed, by which the unwary were intrapped. The Learned Counsel called several witnesses to show that the articles had been left with the prisoner's mother as a deposit for rent. The jury retired, and, after about half an hour's con sultation' returned a verdict o f gu il ty. The Learned JUDQX) said it was evident the prisoner had, like hundreds of other young persons, been ruined by these " threepenny hops.' The sentence of the Court was, that he be imp risone d and kept to hard labour, in the House of Correction, for three months. Themes Henry, a middle-aged man of respectable ap pearance, was indicted for stealing a quantity of mouse line-de-laine, the property of Mr. Alworthy. The jury returned a verdict of Guilty, and the Court sentenced the prisoner to she months' imprisonment with hard labour. John Wall was indicted for stealing a quantity of car penters' tools, the property of Jacob Western. The prosecutor and prisoner were fellow-workmen, and during the temporary absence of the former to his dinner the latter took away the tools, which he pledged for a small sum at a pawnbroker's in the neighbourhood. The prisoner, in his defence, said he merely took the thing by way of " a lark," and intended to return them again. - The jury having returned a verdict of Guilty, tb, prisoner was sentenced to two months' imprisonment with hard labour. An inquest was held before C. H.. Cooper, Esq., at the New Inn, Parker's Piece, on view of the body of Mr. Steph en C amp, late of Eden-street, aged 68. The deceased had been in good health up to the day of his decease, and on Sunday he ate a hearty dinner of roast pork. In the evening of that day he complained of a pain in his chest. He took some gin and water, and then said he fek better. After walking up and down the room, he sat down in a chair, and in a few minutes after wards expired. A post-mortem examination was made by Mr. Lestourgeon, who was of opinion that death had been caused by the quantity of pork deceased had eaten (of which there were pieces nearly an inch square), which had prevented flue action of - the-heart, and so occa sioned death. The jury returned a verdiCt off". Died by the visitation of God.'' —Cambridge Advertiser. CITY NON-FREEMEN. As this subject has given rise to much anxiety amongst the mercantile houses, it may be useful to knovi, that in 1828, similar applications to the wholesale and mercantile firms to take out their freedoms were made, and an association then formed for resisting the pretensions of the City, which counnj ad vised to be unfounded. THE BOURSE--MONDAY, DEC. 16. First Highest Lowest Last Price. Price. Pri ce . P r i ce. FrenCh Five per Cents•• .. •• 120 95 .. 121 .• 120 80 .• 120 80 Fours ..•• Three per Cents....• 85 •• 85 10 .. 85 .. 85 10 New Loan ........ 86 AO .. 86 60 .. 86 50 .. 86 60 Bank of France....... 4275 ..3273 ..3275 ..3275 Lailitte Bank, I,ooof. Sharcslllo .0110 • • 1110 ..1119 5,000 f. Sharesso92 59 ••5092 50 .. 5091 50 ..5091 50 Belgian 8ank...... .... .. .. 585 .. 595 .. 585 .. 595 1841.... 1840 .••• •• •• 106/ •• 106; •• 1061 Belgian Fives, 1842 Two-and-a-Half.. •. 62 70 .. 62 70 .. 62 60 .. 62 60 Dutch Two and-a-Half••• •• 6 3i •• 631 .. 631 . 631 •• •••• •• 1061 vortuguese Five per Cents 57 •• 57 .. 57 .. 57 4panisti Threes .••••• • • • • • • 37 i • • 37f • • 371 .. 37t Passive .. 6 .. 6 .. 6 1i eap0 u tan ............ • •• 98 60 .. 98 60 .. 98 60 .• 98 60 Roman •• RAILWAY SHARES. M. Germain •• •••• •• •••••• 1015 —10:0 ..1015 ..1020 Versailles,R.B.•• •••• •• •• •• 500 •• 500 .. 500 .. 400 ........ 400 .• 400 •• 375 •• 375 8 0 ",„ ..•• •• •• ••••••••••1045 • 1015 ..1045 -.1045 Rouen to Havre.• .. Orleans • Strasburg to Bale• ... 3lO •• 318 7 5 . 310 ..1310 Avignon to Marseilles•••• .. 917 50 .• 933 75 .. 917 50 .. 930 RAILWAY SHARES FOR SETTLING, Dzc. 16. M. Germain, •••.......1010 ..1020 ..1010 —lO3O Versailles, L.R•• •• .... 353 75 • 402 50 • .. 364 75 .. 368 75 ........•1837 50 ••1045 ..1037 50 ..1040 Rouen to Havre•••• WI° •• 505 •• 798 75 .. 800 1100 .0122 50 .4100 ..1115 itrasburg to Bale•••• •• •••• 310 .. 317 50 .. 310 .. 310 .ivignoa to Marseilles 926 23 .. 935 •• 926 25 .. 939 RAILWAYS FOR THE ACCOUNT, JAN. 3. St. Germain •••• • lOl5 ..1030 •• ' ...t2 50 -.1020 f. en a ill es , it.B.•• ••:• •"• •' 498 75 " 415 IS .• 495 .. 495 ••••••1045 --- 4 03 3 ' • 370 .• 370 Konen •• •• •• •• •••• •• , .-1040 ..1045 ..1 8 845 Xouen to Havre• • .02 50 .. 805 .. 80) Jrleans .. Strasburg to 8a1e•••..... •• 312 50 •• 320 .• 308 ..1127 50 308 75 tvignon to Marniflee..... • 927 5 0 .. 937 50 . 927 50 .. 930 HER MAJESTY'S STAG liourins.—We are requested to state that her Majesty's buckhounds will meet on Fri day next, at Salt-hill, at eleven o'clock. A deputation from the North Devon Railway di rect from the Tiverton -road station to Ilfracombe, in the Bristol Channel, had an interview with the Earl of Dal housie and the Railway Committee yesterday, at the Board of Trade. This line goes through Tiverton, South Molton, and Barnstaple. Tiverton was repre sented by Lord Palmerston, Mr. Heathcote, M.P., and Mr. Tripp ; Barnstaple by Mr. Tamlyn, barrister, and Mr. Lionel Bencraft, town-clerk ; South Molton by Mr. 13awden and Mr. Rickard. The deputation were very fa vourably received. This line comprehends the four towns we hare mentioned, having a population of nearly 40,000 inhabitants, and several populous villages, and will be in length from the Tiverton -road station to Barnstaple only 34 miles, and to Ilfracombe about 45 miles. We have h a d occas i on more than once of late to refer to the indisposition of the . Hon. C. A. Murray, Master of the Household, who has been for the last three months suffering from the consequences of a severe acci dent, but is now nearly convalescent. Nevertheless, in being doubtful whether the Hon. Gentleman could ven ture, without risk of retarding his Complete recovery, to resume his present official functions, which require con stant activity, attendance, and exertion, we understand that the Queen has, with her usual considerate kindness, desired the Earl of Aberdeen to ascertain whether Mr. Murray would prefer the less arduous duties of diplo matic employment, and, in the event of that Minister's receiving an affirmative reply, to offer him an appoint ment on the occurrence of the first eligible vacancy. The Gazette may probably bear witness ere long to the cor rectness of our intelligence.—Times. SHOCKING CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.--The Animals' Friend Society, of No. 18, Strand, last week charged James King, a costermonger, at Union-hall, with having tied an ass to the shafts of a cart, which he drove too fast for the poor animal to keep up with, and the wheel, in consequence, run over its legs, and lamed it, so that it went on three legs, while the fellow was beating it cruelly. Mr. T ra ill fined him 10s., but not paying it he was committed for fourteen days: as was also W. Dark, a dust collector, for having gallopped on an ass for a long distance, and violently beaten the ass all the time. It also caused William Baker to be fined ss. at Bow street, by Mr. Twyford, for having worked and cruelly whipped a horse which had a very bad wound under the saddle, four inches by three. The Society has been requested, by its foreign Hon. Secretary, to caution per. sons who may travel in Germany, not to trust their dogs to the hotel keepers, who, it appstars, often poison them, and report that they have died in fits. DOVER, DEC. 1 7.—Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Saxo Coburg and Gotha, with their suite, arrived here this afternoon, about four o'clock, by special train, and immediately embarked in the Black Eagle steamer, under a royal salate from the Western heights. The Black Eagle left the harbour shortly after for Calais. THE LATE ACCIDENT ON THE DOVER RAILWAY.— On Sunday afternoon the remains of the unf.irtunate men, Robert Buckley and Aaron Wilkinson, who were killed by the explosion of an engine on the Bricklayers' Arms branch of the above railway, on Tuesday night last, were interred in the burial-ground attached to the New Church, Deptford. A vast number of people assem bled -tt New-cross, where they lately resided, to witness the funeral, the expenses of which were defrayed by the Railway Company. Both men were single, and Buckley was on the point of marriage when the melancholy acci dent occurred. 1844. MONEY AND COMMERCIAL NEWS OTT', QUARTER TO THREE. There was a quiet, thou g;; steady, market fur Cotton at Llverpoolyesterday, and previous rates were paid for about s,oidti blileg; sold to the trade. There was a good demand for Railway Blitire?", dtid prices remained firm.— Chester and Birkenhead, 34/ ; Mester and Holyhead, 6; Churnet Valley, 31; Eastern Counties, 13i ; Grand Junction, 223 ; Grand Junction, Nov, Quarters, 42 ; Great North of England, 1231 ; Great Wesit:": 148 ; Liverpool and Manchester, 209 ; Ditto, Half, 1021 ; London and Birmingham, 2241 ; Ditto, 32/. Sham, 37 ; London and Brighton, 501 ; London and South Western, 82f ; London and York, 44 ; Midland Counties, 113 ; South Eastern, New, 12k ; Trent Valley, 7 ; Lyons and Avignon, 535. ; Paris and Lyons, 685.; Paris and Rouen, 40 ; Strasburg and Bale, 12f ; Sambre and Meuse, 61s. 6d. There are no arrivals to-day. It is stated that the Customs' authorities have wholly denied redress to the importers of oranges, for the excess in the charge for duty, and, unless something is done, the trade must be stopped, as the merchants will never submit to an extra payment of 50 or 100 per cent. for the sake of half-a•dozen oranges. The whole case is as overstrained as any we ever heard of, and the loss upon the fruit coming over will be a serious matter, unless the Treasury does something. Much satisfaction has been expressed in the City this morning among the merchants and others connected with the East Indies, at the announcement made this morning by the Chairman of the Company, that dis patches have been sent out to sever the connexion be tween the Government of India and the keeping up of the Idolatrous Temples there. At the General Court of Proprietors now being held, the announcement was received with a burst of applause. We believe we may state with confidence, that the financial affairs of the Government of the East ladies is rapidly improving. There is an increased demand for money in the City this morning, and that, too, for commercial purposes. Still the markets for Stock rate high. For the Account, the prices have been at 100* 4, and the Reduced Three per Cents. have reached l per cent. above par. The Commissioners bought about 15,0001. of the Three-and a-Quarter per Cents., at 1034. Exchequer Bills were done at 595. and 575. premium, and Indian Bonds at 75i premium. Bank Stock has improved to 108.1. In the Foreign Funds a very fair amount of business has been transacted. Spanish Three per Cents. have been steady at 374 1, but Portuguese Converted, after touching 584, are now at 58. The Dutch Four per Cents. have fluctuated from 974 to 974, and the Two-and-a-Half per Cents. have fallen from 6.1+ to 64. Buenos Ayres Bonds have been done at 37, Mexican at 364, and Peruvian at 29. The Share Market is firm this morning. Confidence in the new Irish projected lines is much increasing. BRITISH FUNDS Tests DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK. (From the Official List.) Bank Stock for Account ........ 3 per Cent.,Reduced Annuities ............. ..... 100%i New 35( per Cent. Annuities .. 103% Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan. 1809... ... 19 1- 1 634 India Bonds,l,ooo - . r • Ditto under 1,000.......•..............—...." is Consols for Opening 0.4 1 '.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 100% g Exchequer Bills. I%cl. 1441. 1,0801. ..... ................. ........... 59 57 pin. 5001.. •••••••••••••••••••• ..... •••••••••••• 69 57 pm. Ditto ga11.... ." . ..... .... •11 , 14...11. FA 57 pm. Ditto Advertised ..„..... FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK. Buenos Ayres Bonds, 6 per Cent................ 37 Mexican Bonds, 1837, 5 per Cent. ..... ..... ..... 36%14 Ditto for the Account. 26q Ditto Deferred 9t0eL.........6111411.. .............. 161 s, 16 Peruvian Bonds, 0 per Cents. 2934 20 Portuguese Bonds 5 per Cent. ..... .............. Ditto Converted 5834 59 Russian Bonds, 1822, 5 per Cent ll9 Spanish Bonds, Five per Cent 1840 — Ditto Three per Cent. Ditto for the Account... ..... ••••••••••••••••••••••• 3714 Dutch 2 54 per Cent 5.....,...... Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates....... Dutch 5 per Cent 5.........•...............•• 0 9% PIRCES OF SHARES THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK. flamw &YES. PAID. Pea Sil• HD. Bristol and Exeter Cambridge and Lincoln Eastern Counties ......... ....... 25 ........ 14 .... to Great Southern and Western/ 5 .....».. 8%% ... to ... (Ireland) Great Western ........................ 75 .... .... 148% 150 to 14934 Ditto 34 Shares 5O ......... 89%% ... to Hull and Selby London and Birmingham.......... 100 ......... 228 to ... Ditto New Thirds ...... ........... 2 .•..... 3934 •• to —. Ditto 54 Shares London and 81ackwe11............... 16% ..... 6% ...~. London and Brighton ..............«.«.. ....... 50 ••••••••• 50%54 ••• to Ditto Loan Notes London and South Western ..... 41% Manchester and Leed5............. 70 .. ..... 119 .. to 120 Midland ....... . .. .... ............. 100......... 113 ........ to 112% Birmingham and . berby .-....... 100 Newcastle and Darlington Junct. 24 tit ..... to Richmond and West End Junct. 1 ........, 2 ...... to South Eastern and DoVer ......... 333 G 3 9%1i ••• to York and North Midland ......... 50 Ditto Extension •( — Orleans and Vierzon Orleans and Bourdeaux Paris and Orleans SO ••........ 43% Parisand R0vien.................... 20 .......... 4054 lii Paris and Stra bourg ...... Strasburg and ißasle ... .. JOINT STOCK BANKS. National PioViiia;igiland... 95 Erratum in yesterday's list.—Read Great Western 149 0 instead of Great North of England. MANCHESTER STOCK EXCHANGE, DEC. 17.—A con siderable business has been done to-day at firm prices.— Blackburn, Burnley, and Accrington, 3 ; West York shire, 61 Churnet Valley, 3 7-16 ; Chester and Bir kenhead, 331 ex new ; London and York, 4; Belfast Junction, 3/ ; Birkenhead, Manchester, and Cheshire Junction, 6k ; Cambridge and Lincoln, 2k 1; Paris and Lyons, 31; Sheffield and Manchester, Quarter, 12 15-16; Manchester and Birmingham, Quarter, 41. 18s. 9d. EAST INDIA HOUSE-(THIS DAY.) A Quarterly General Court of Proprietors of East India Stock was held this day, at the. Company's House, in Leadenhall-street ; Captain Shepherd in the chair. The minutes of the last Court were read and con firmed. The CLERK read a letter from General Sir William Nott, returning thanks for the recent vote of the Court. A list of superannuations and allowances since the last Court was read. THE TEMPLE OF JUGGERNAUT. The CHAIRMAN, in reference to a motion of which Mr. Poynder had given notice, said he was happy to in form the Court that arrangements had been made, by which the British Government of India would in future have no connection whatever with the worship of the natives in the Temple of Juggernaut.—(Hear.) Mr. STRACHAN expressed his very great pleasure at hearing so important an announcement from the Chairman. Mr. GEORGE TuomPso4 then rose to call the atten tion of the Court to the treatment of his Majesty the King of Delhi by the Government of India, and also to tho state of the polic e i n th e p res id enc i es of Bengal and Agra, and to the state of the gaols in all the presi dencies of India. kI t AFT PIPZAKINC.) MARKET NE WS.-(THIS DAY.) CORN-EXCHANGE —WEDNESDAY. The supply of English Wheat offering was but limited. For the finest qualities the demand was rather active, while the value of all other kinds was steadily supported. Foreign Wheat was in fair request, and a good business was doing, at previous fignres. Barley was in steady request, at fully previous rates; but in Malt, next to nothing was doing. Oats, Beans, and Peas, supported Monday's quotations. ARRIVALS. Wheat. Barley. Oats. Eng1i5h...„.„..1,140 qrs. 1,310 qrs. 10 1ri5h„..„.„.„..- --- 3,160 qrs. F0reign.......... - _ ...._ Malt. 690 qrs. I; O 7ECITECELAPEL. The supply of Meat here was, on the whole, extensive, while the demand was somewhat inactive, at pre• vious rates. Beef, from 2s 10d to 3s 10d ; Mutton, 3s to 3s 10d ; Veal, 3s 4d t o 4 s 4d ; an d P or k , 2s 10d to 4s per 81b5. by the carcase. Fleur 2,390 LLOYD'S SHIPPING—(THIS DAY.) L.NDON, DEC. 18.—Wind E.S.E., light breeze and cloudy, weather mild but damp. SWANSEA, DEC. 14.—Sid. Golconda, Valparaiso. MILFORD, DEC. 16.—Arrd. Queen of the Isles, Lon don for Barcelona, leaky, with l oss c f sa il s , & c . LEITH, DEC. 15.—SId. Barossa and Columbus, Ichaboe. SOUTHAMPTON, DEC. 17.—S1d. Trent steamer, West Indies. PLYMOUTH, DEC. 17.—Wind S.S.E.—Arrd. Isabella, Watson, London, for Port Philip ; Ann Mills, Kennedy, Quebec ; Flora, Baker, Newfoundland, FALMOUTH, DEC. 17.—Wind S.S.E., strong gales.- 16. A vessel, bottom up, was passed in lat. 47, lon. 8, by the Anne, arrived here. PENZANCE, DEC. 15.—Arrd. Ceres, Gijon, for Lon don, with loss of bowsprit, &c. GooLE, DEC. 16—The John Barry, of Whitby, hence to London, put back yesterday, leaky, and must dis charge to repair. CLYDE, DEC. 16.—Sid. Rowley, Demerara ; Superb, Mobile. LEITH, DEC. 17.--The Oberon, Addie, from Hull to Gothenberg, put back to the Road, 13th inst., with da mage to sails, rigging, &c., having experienced very severe weather on the coast of Norway. Thn Eleonore Pauline, of Copenhagen, from Callundberg to Hull, foundered about 100 miles from the coast of Norway ; crew saved by the Oberon, Addie. HELMSDALE, DEC. 12.—The Scotia, of Bremen for Speymouth (with bones) is, ashore on the sands at the east side of the harbour; crew saved ; vessel tot much damaged. HOLYIIEAD.—Arrd. Invoice, Rawlings, Ichaboe ; Binley, Frazer, Rio de la Hache. LIVERPOOL, DEC. 17.—Wind N.E. moderate.—Arrd. Hebe, Weight, St. John's, New Brunswick. Sid. Duke Leinster, - Ceylon ; Jackson and Thomas Battenby, Ichaboe; Archelaus, New Orleans; Corromando, Boston; the Demerara(packet), Consistence, to Demerara, took fire 15th inst. off the Kish Light, and was run ashore near Dublin and went to pieces_i crew saved. WEXFORD, DEc. 15.—The Victory, Davis, from Port Madoc to Chepstow, was driven ashore 13th inst., 27 miles to the northward, and expected to become a wreck; one man drowned. • sonl e `ye The _Marquis of Lansdowne has sustained _ nt s p jury in ;his foot, which is so severe as to pre"_. nt . Nobita 'Marquis from quitting Bowood for the prtb` : .,, a —it ban SA LE OF THE WEST LONDON RAILWAY. ~.d o ile been announced that this railway, which has pro ve d f ie an ur • fortunate speculation to the shareholders i n : st e ____ _ to be sold by auction yesterday piecemeal, We i t ;,( 0 0 On Monday morning a fine fat ox, belonging td A I butcher,talist s and contractors attended at the Kensington s ev er, in Wells-street, O x f or d-street , while being , t , th driven, with several others, through Brooks market,• - e railway at Knightgbridge. No sale, hn w , ife r took • as it wes announced that, since the n' 50 15 Holborn, suddenly left the herd, and walked into the P ° .serno. nlace , -it had appeared, announcing the sale, Pr ° ,...„.hon private entrance of a house, occupied by Mr. Wynne, tl had bee, -1. received from the London and liirin sf ils• tailor, &c., Dornington-street, and after walking up the Company . for the purchase of the line, which pruP_ f t he passage, became firmly fixed at the end. The passage it hop ed, would meet with the approbation_ o___,A. was so peculiarly constructed that it was not posse - was . ble to get it out alive, and after the animal had remained shareholdet S. The sale was, therefore, indefinitelir in the same position from* . lll onday morning until Tues- poned. o . e r 0 1 Queen Down tor day night, it was found necessary to kill it, which was DRAYDON #3 EJI UCIIA M P . —The . . he e not done wi th ou t considerable di ffi culty. So swollen had caused a d onatiot, of 20/. to be transmitted to '_, wil d ' , the beast become from its cramped position that it re- of Drayton. BeaucxtutreP, towards the . expenses °' 0 400 quired the united exertions v f t wo h orses and ippwards of ing a natioaial schoo. l an d a t eac her's restdence , twenty men to extricate it. ' . have just ftifen erectfal here. SUMMARY OF NEWS AND iliutitt eptuton. " Who runs may read." POSZION. ------- - The 2- 7 _' niteur publishes a royal ordonnance, dated St ' 1. 4 nrescribing the publication of It Cloud, 7th insta the Emperor of Mo recc" convention entered into w..._ ^n the 26th licl t r on the 10th September, and ratifieu •_.,,vat e% her. The ordonnance is followed by the es.- •-1 which differs in no point from the copy which Wal l. ' already published. The Minister of the Interior has just signed in nali2: risation in favour of an important decision which. "i f come to a few days ago, by the Council of the Mont P. 6.6, at which the Prefect of the Seine presided. 1 1 this decision, with a v i ew t o th e re li e f o f the indig e „, ° during the wint e r season , a sum o f 800,0001'. is to a' . employed during th e fi rs t t h ree mont h s o f 1845, in loans without interest. Th e max i mum o f t h e l oa ns is to o twenty francs, and the minimum three, and no perilt, - will be permitt e d t o ma k e pl e d ges f or l oans free fit interest, except the indi gen t, w h o h ave cer tificates fr o m the Bureaux de Bienfaisance. M. Alexandre Gouin, member of the Chamber of Or puties, banker at T ou r s , an d f ormer l y Mi n i ster o f Finga has consented to become Managing. Director of 1' 661. ' ,hs and Co.'s Bank, whi c h w ill henceforth be entitled '- bank of " A. Gouin and Cc" c old 16 According to the journals of th e sou th the _" Languedoc, last w ee k, was qu it e as severe as in Indeed, at Montpellier, on the night of the Bth, the the!: mometer fell nearly half a degree centigrade lower ths ; the lowest point in Paris. A young soldier was fr oo to death on the road fro m L o de ve t o C a yl a r; sad 00,•• Monday morning last a boy was frozen to death ill' boat in the port of Marseilles. i It is stated by a Brus se l s p a p e r th a t th e c old a • , gium, last week, was so intense, that several child °. were found frozen to death in the snow. Nee " A new amnesty for politi ca l o ff en d ers h as been ta. of," says the Constitutionnel, " but we learn tbst Toussant Michel, condemned to six months' iniforii ° l ment for a pamphlet entitled Caducite des liehgli and whose term expired on Saturday, i s still detaiato and will have to remain in confi ne m e nt twelve Int n i a l longer for non-payment of 2,4131'., the amount a! -"- fine, and the costs of the prosecution." t a t Our accounts from Berlin of th e 12th state th 01,,, Lucerne on the 11th there was no change in the sitaki of the repective parties. The Government was adoP b vigorous measures against the rebel chiefs who As fallen into his hands, and the journals favourable foLs',4 insurrection had suspended publication under the Om', of prosecution. the of The Messager publishes the folldwing return vessels entering the port of Papeiti (Otabeite) da, r .o, the first three months of 1844 :—Whalers (Freac_li measuring together 715 tons, with cargoes val,,,,ors it , / 222,000 fr. ; English, 1, of 350 tons, cargo 95,u o, American, 15, 4,853 tons, cargoes 877,000 fr.; Brzlo 1, of 340 tons, cargo 95,000fr.—Trading vessels (Fre ° be 8, measuring together 243 tons, cargoes 16,25 0 f'" s e sides 5 t essels freighted by the State ; English, gt of gether 1,094 tons, cargoes 221,500 fr. ; Chilian, 115 tons, cargo 15,000 fr. ; Danish, 2, 635 tons, Cl 65,000 fr. the The Chamber of Nobles of Sweden decided, . 011 i 23d ult., by a large majority, that, on the intenacl:llfis troduotion of a new monetary system, the decirna , " i ; sion shall be adopted, n o twith s ta n ding the opposit 4 ° the bank committee to this mode of division. et nei Another gang of malefactors, ten in nuMbeff , thd La Bande du Marais, was tried last week by the Court of Assize. An immense number of row-fi were proved against them, chiefly on the evidence li t ir portion of the gang, and on Saturday a verdict of g!,,, i t was recorded against the whole of them. The ,w e i, criminal were sentenced to various terms of iinP!,d i s ment, of from five to ten years, at the Begne, 0%0 least criminal were condemned to solitary confilie lli o. or simple imprisonment for periods of three to Biz l e the We learn from Strasburg that the steeple ofbeell cathedral, which, from some unknown cause, has for some time gradually diverting from the Wr i e f s dicular, now leans so much that the summit 0 or e metres out of a line with the base. Great fear' entertained of its falling. &ASV AND POSICIL At the Liverpool assize, Thomas Stew was con" bf of the wilful murder of Alice Nolan, at Manchester' cutting her throat, and sentenced to death. iD Paul Downing, 19, and Ch ar l es P ow y s , 17, l'IC: - 1 .01 dieted, at Stafford, f o r th e w ilf u l mur d e r of Nvi l e ,a Cooper, at Audley, on the 4th August last, the s od gamekeeper to Sir Thomas Boughey. The trial le a all Monday, and was adjourned. At the Guildhall Walter Bennet, a lad about ten Ye l l of age, who was brought up at this court on the 21 s e o f November last for stabbing a n app ren ti ce in the el i w pbo of Mr. Graham, of Bride-la n e, w ith a g ouge, an ' 01 has been remanded from ti me t o ti me i n consecpl_en" - al the dangerous nature of the wound, was again p 1 0 y the bar with a view to the obt a i n ment of his linerer s be A surgeon's certificate was handed in, stating th a t t ", 0 boy Ingram was now out tsf danger, but still too let"' ;0 1 attend and give his evidence. Ald e r man J o hnsen 00 he should not allow the affair to end in that manner. he must see the boy in court, and for that purpos e . should remand the prisoner for another week. Yesterday, Sarah Smith, a middle.aged wonvoll " • had been for the last f our or fi ve years ungrage`'—as charwoman at the houses of several respectable Pe othe at Chelsea and Brornpton, and availed herself opportunity so afforded to plunder her employers. 4,6 considerable extent, was committed, on three die' charges, from Queeu-square. Four men, named Pear, Elliott, Carr, and Deeq, °l4 were yesterday placed at the bar at Union-hall, Mr. Traill, charged with being concerned in his ° , 4 l . c tell turing glass in an unlicens e d h ouse . M r . Trail' ihf l o it the penalty of 30L on each of th e p r i sone r s . In "%leo of payment they were comm itt e d t o p r i s on for r months. --- The following notice was posted outside Union' . 00 . —" By an Order in Council the Police-court, U t Ti g h• hall, will close a fter th e 28th i ns t., w h en t h e este or ment will be removed to the Police-court Blow' street. By order of the ma g istrates, , 0 " N. EDWIN, Chief C/er";, e ll James Webb, aged 18, was committed at Clerkelloor for stealing a gown, the property of his mother, • widow living in John-street, Tottenham-court-rose' COVET—rAsizzowaanaa. The Marquis and Marchion ess of Ab erc orn left A' or g, ley House, Park-lane, on Monday, for Barons Co county Tyrone, where his Lordship will enter a l family circle, including Lord and Lady Claude ton, during the approaching Christmas recess. t ed The Marquis and Marchioness of Douglas have arr!,* Ot on a visit to Lord Fr e d er i c k an d L a dy A ugu sta of rence, at Etal House, near Coldstream, from the D" Dunmore's, Dunmore Castle, Falkirk, N.B. t he The Earl i of Ellenborough, who has been visitiooso Marquis of Salisbury at Hatfield House, has returnbs Southern, where tie intends to remain until afte r Christmas recess. O le Viscount Mandeville, eldest son of the Duke of 1 sir chester, who is on the staff of Lieutenant-Gener:7o Peregrine Maitland, Governor of the Cape of Goody' • has recently attained his majority. tsl The Count and Countess de Jarnac, late the Hon. po Foley, are expected to r e t u rn to town on Fridaeror, turday next, from the Earl and Countess of $ optl ville's villa, at Walton-upon-Thames. The CountdO his Noble bride are e x pe c ted on a s ojourn at DO"' Hotel, previous to their departure for Paris. p p e Lord and Lady Robert Grosvenor, who are starn_oo6 a visit to the Marquis of Sali s bury, •at Hatfield t o y will leave on Saturday next for the Marquis of rninster's seat, Eaton Hall, Cheshire. 1 His Excellency Caza Irujo, Spanish Minister r-ePi tentiary, will arrive shortly in London. The late e it dente of Mr. More O'Ferrall, M.P., in Hitrley-str ee being prepared for his Excellency's reception. INIBMIZZA.NIIOI7II. 1 0 One of the largest meetings which ever took pleat Brighton was held on Monday evening, by adjourn ° o r from that day week, the adjournment being. for tt e lf s t 0 pose of giving the inhabitants time to read and ow:, 0 0.. report presented by a Committee appointed at a pre meeting, and which recommended the inhabitants tcti r e tition the Queen in Council for a charter of incur' lion. The meeting did not break up till one o'cl o4 t he Tuesday morning, when the proposal to incorpno ite town was negatived by a large majority. •9/. The repeal rent for the last week amounted to 1' er , An action was tried in the Irish Court of Exell eg lot on Friday and Saturday last, in which the def er was a Mr. Benedict Arthur Yates, a gentleman nf A F t ba perty, and a magistrate of the county Kildare, an", a 0 plaintiff a very poor woman, named Smith. It " - girl action for the seduction of the plainti ff 's daughter, 41.10 of about eighteen. The jury found for the plainti ff ' 3001. damages. The Gazette of Tuesday contains an Order in C° ll the defining the boundaries of the divisions assigned %ad different metropolitan police- o ffi ces, which will b e a" in another part of the paper. e The Right R ev . D r . K en n e dy a nd his clergy met Log week at M ea th, an d h ave f u l m i na t e d the folln°oo anathema against any bishop, priest, or layina ll :. Act will take a . part in carrying the Charitable BegileB,;,l4 into effect :—" Resolved—That any Roman Catlintarl or clerical„ taking a place on the commission to into effect, this odious Act, deserves the heel c e .. ° o of of the Church, and the indignant scorn of the pe e p Ireland," 41 1 . fa c alit CI the the liott 1%1