The Sun. — London, England, 1844-03-20 00:00:00

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P ARLIAMEN TAR Y DIV IsIONS, r HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. —........_ ___......---. ( re ,,, the Votes and Proceedings lithe House of Commons.) I An Italian version of Herold's chef d'oeuvre, Zampa, was MONDAY, MARCH 18. produced at this theatre last evening, under certainly not the - F ACTORIES BILL.—(IN THE COMMITTEE.) ' most favourable circumstances. This is, perhaps, taken as a , i ! ot erpretation Cl ause :—" A n d th e wor d ' n i g ht' s h a ll b e w h o l e, t h e most per f ect opera o f mo d ern ti mes . Th ere i s a %en to mean f rom eight of the clock in the evening : a clock on th e f o l low i ng morning :" Question pot, " That i to six °- f rich flow of original and beautiful melody throughout this me be in serte d :" T he Committee divided : magnificent work, and this melody is supported by most I elaborately-written and scientific harmonies. The instru- MAJORITY—AYES. 161. 4Anciland, Sir T. D Fuller. A. E. mentation is perfect. The choruses are some of the grandest Murray, A. n' in a . nl .4. , p e .. er Gardner ll,lil ,.J m . a. D. Napier, Sir Charles ever composed, and, if we may be permitted the expression, A A . r n u t nt u l ! ' Lord Ed mu n d Neville, Ralph the music is admirably massed throughout. The opera has Gladstone, J. N. Newport, Vi count Gore, M. O'Brien, A. S. always been most popular on the Continent, but a fatality li...st_el, William Gore, W. Ormsby Ossulston, Lord seems to have attended all attempts at its production 0 1, es. Geor ge Gore, Robert Packs, C. W. el% William Goring, Charles Pa ge t, F. i n thi s country. S ome years s i nce it was to h ave Major Granger, T C. Paget, Lord Alfred B roal been produced at Covent. Garden, the theatre closed pre , Ralph Gregory, W. H. Pakington, J. S. mckstone Ill a k e m v ., ' • Grey. Sir G. Palmer, R. maturely—the company removed to the Olympic, and th en 13 ort14' ' l. Grimsditch, Thomas Palmerston, Viscount Zampa was produced, with, of course, but mediocre success. t radak _ick, Peter Gramston,_ Lora Pennant, Colonel lA.__ "mr, Jame. Grogan, Edward Pin metre, J. P. The theatre was too small, and the orchestra too limited, to tromston. T. W. Guest, J. Plumridge, Captain do justice to Herold's chef d'ceuvre. It was announced as the B i . °4 dleY, Henry Hanmer, Sir John Polhill, Frederick „ ocklehurst, J. Harcourt, G. G. Pollington, viscount opera with which the present season was to open at her Ma arotherton J 11 tiller, c• * Hardy, John Pracd, William I'. • jesty's Theatre, with Fornasari as Zampa. In consequence tusfeila, is,r• Hastie, A. Pusey, Philip antler, P. S • Hawes, B. Ramsbottom, J. of his unfortunate differences with the Paris management, Bin, Hon -• Hayes, Sir E. Rashleigh, Wm. Fornasari was unable to be here at the opening of the theatre, C 44; .G. 6. Heathcoat, J. Rendlesham, Lord t aven lc ci l!sh, Hon. C. Henley, J. W. Repton, George J. and Acklia was substituted for Zampa. He arrived last week, Chale'ski Hon. U. Hindley, Char e. , Richards, Richard and Zampa was announced for last night, but Fornasari, on t'' L. S. Hollond, Rcbert Ross, David R. r 14n ". B. Hope, Alexander Russell, Lard John his arrival, was so ill, that it was impossible for him to c-oclichtiv_ ode, Sir John Hornby, John Russell, J. 13 appear ; and Signor Felice, the new basso cantate, undertook c o Zi n n e e,..4l exitid e Herrman, Edward Ryder, G. D. I y Howard, W. Sandon, Viscount the part at a very short notice. But the fatality attending adquhoun, John C Howard, Lord Shaw, Frederick the production of Zampa did not end here. Signor Felice 1 :2 1 od, Alderman nowick„ Lord dibtherp, Colonel Cr aw 7 o r r !,Floo W. Humehery, J. Smith, J. Abel was also taken ill, and the following hand-bill was distri cresawer, W. S. Sir It. Smith, ft. Vernon buted throughout the theatre last evening, before the corn- Curte i• A. J. B. James, Sir . Walter Smollett, Alexander eb . ix, H. B. Jocelyn, Viscount Strickland, Sir t.y. mencement of the opera:— tiaeies, D. A. S Johnstone, Sir John Taylor, Edward " HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE, TUESDAY, MARCH 19.—The 6,lly , Kemble, Henry Taylor, J. A. , son, E. B. Knight, H. G. Tollemache, J. indulgence of the subscribers and the public is earnestly re biecourt, T. C. Law, Hon. C. E. Toyota - le, G. quested in favour of Signor Felice, who has not only under- P lor t °l) l 2. F. IL Lawson, Andrew Towneley, John Nis James Lefroy, Anthony Trotter, J. taken the arduous part of Zampa at the shortest notice, but o tin , Sir James Legh, G. C. Troubridge, Sir T. is suffering from indisposition." 13 1tan e m,be, T. S. Leveson, Lord Tufnell, H. p h :, ° tope, 0. Lindsay, H. Vane, Lord Harry It was evident, from the first moment that Signor Felice 4,uas, Admiral Lowther, John H. Vivian, J. H. made his appearance, that he was suffering so severely from rAith re ' C. G . M'Greachy, F. A. VVakley, Thomas . . . . 4, ; °Pe, Sir John Mahon, Lord Walker, R. indisposition as to stand in need of every indulgence that ph.'cogton Viscount Mainwaring,:T Wawn, J. T. could be extended towards him ; and, therefore, out of justiee iv e, .' Mangles, R. D. Williams, W. k n i lt Winn Manners, Lord J. Wilshere, W. to him, we shall abstain from offering any opinion as to his p a Yos viseount Maxwell, Hon. J. P. Yorke, H. Redhead qualifications until we have had an opportunity of hearing r ! n hun. E. B. Miles, William Fe j him under more favourable circumstances. Madame Per .vea , . • Milnes, Richard TELLERS. Morris, David Ashley, Lord siani was the Camilla, and gave the beautiful preghiera in the 4e16'11 , 11 i. Muntz, G. F. Wortley, Hon. JohnS first act with the most exquisite pathos and effect. The duet in the second act, " Nel vedere it suo tormento" was also most delightfully given by Madame Persiani and Signor Corelli (whose Alphonso was admirable), and was loudly encored. It was, in fact, the gem of the opera. Signor F. Lablache was the Daniel Capuazi, and the buffo duet in the second act was admirably sung and acted by him and Madame Bellini, who sustained the part of Reta. The chorusses were well given, and the beautiful overture re ceived full justice at the hands of the orchestra. The opera was admirably conducted by Signor Costa. The mise en scene was perfect ; yet still, owing to the manifest inefficiency of the Zampa, the opera went off flatly. The beautiful ballet La Esmeralda, which seems to increase in its powers of attraction every time it is repre sented, concluded the evening's entertainments. The house was crowded. MINORITY-NOES, 153. Escott, Bichkam Mitcalfe, Henry Estcourt, T. G. B. Mitchell, I'. A. Evans, William Morgan, Octavius Filmer,'Sir E. Mundy, E. Miller Fitzmaurice, W. - . Nichol) Right Hon Flower, Sir James Norreys Sir D. J. Forster, Matthew O'Ferrall, R. M. Fox, S. Lane Owen, Sir John ' kremantle, Sir T. Parker, J. Gibson, T. M. Patten, John Wilson t, isborne, Thomas Patt.son, J ames Gladstone, W. E. Peel, Sir Rob .rt Gordon, Captain Peel, Jonati an Goulburn, Henry Philips, G. 11. Graham, Sir J. Pringle, Alexander Hamilton, Wm. J. Protheroe, Edward Hardinge, Sir H. Ricardo, J. L. Hay, Sir A. L. Rushbreoke, Colonel Herbert, Sidney Sanderson, R. Hinde, J. H. Starlets, R C. Hobhouse, Sir J. Scott, Robert Hodgson, Frederick Shelburne, Lord Holmes, W. A'Court Smith, T. B C. Hope, Cheri s Smythe, Hen. G. Hope, G. W. Somerset, Lord G. Houldsworth, T. Sotheron, T. H. Howard, P. H. Stanley, Lord Hume, Joseph Stanley, Edward Hussey. Thomas Stuart, Lord J. Hut., W. Stuart, Villiers Jernsyn, Earl Strutt, Edward Johnstone, A. Sutton, Hon. H. M. Johnstone, Hope Tennent, J. E. Jones, Captain Thesiger, F. Ki,atchbull Sir E. Tnompson, Ald. Knightley, Sir C. Thornely, Thomas Labouchere, H. Thornhill, G. Lemon, Sir C. Tollemache, F. J. Lennox, Lord A. Trelawny, J. S. Lincoln, Earl of Walsh, Sir John Lockhart, William Warburton, H. Lyall, George Wellesley, Lord C. Lygon, general Wilbraham, R. B. Mackenzie, W. F. Williams, T. P. M'Neill, Duncan Winnington, Sir 'I. Manners, Lord C. S. Wood, Colonel March, Earl of Wood, Colonel T. Marshall, W. Wyndham Colonel Marsharn, Viscount Young, John Martin, C. W. TELLERS. Masterman, John Hodgson, R. Meynell, Captain Collett, John A 4tid to tn urt s.. r a pt . Ark,,,ation:, Bade 'lc a, (loot ge _Y e ..oseph. jun. if 4 ; l 2 , Colonel H. it. M. ..vor, J . J 7,711, Hon. W. B it„TS,, :211 Henry I 4 IL!"htton Viscoun orl:on, Sir H. / 10 ck, Lord G. I,;"nore, R. Isti er °, H. o Beriah )3.;;, , , J. ki. l 2ng, Dr. t t Zt, John bt u .. Lord R. g.. get W. itZe, L. cot' W. Edward ptain %Kir; Ca t hild Ma g h . VISCOUnt h4 t:likr j. W ' ( laylliun L W n_Cla ur Yior l rn W. v t —lee R kook]; " h (Georg e roi e b , Sir. N et t ooke, Sir T. to lets, W. Itickford Cry Henry g, W. Gibson , b arb err Colonel Geor tr:r n t T. Nitvet4 J. tion a l..,George 'oot t , o 7l..Str C. B. Nn ititi ot , trquis of kettle, S. b tln can, Viscount tot! Geerge i ert on l : l T ) , Lord tlgt Lord 1-I"t° ne, Howard k&x STRAND THEATRE. An original drama in two acts, from the pen of Mr. George Bennett, entitled the Soldier's Orphan, was produced at this theatre last evening with the most complete success, the author himself sustaining the principal character. The scene is laid in Switzerland, where Colonel Villars (Mr. George Bennett) is residing with his daughter Julie (Mrs. Montgomery). Hector (Mr. Roberts), the son of the Marquis de Bournonville (Mr. W. Searle), has met with an accident, and is conveyed to their cottage ; an attachment spings up between him and Julie. The Colonel, who recognises in Hector's features a resemblance to those of one who had for merly done him grievous wrong, warns Julie against their guest, and not without reason, for Hector seizes her by force and hurries her off to Paris. The Colonel follows and stabs Hector as Julie is clinging to him, urging him to let her return to her native land. Hector, however, who is the son of the Colonel's old enemy, does not die—and it eventually turns out that Julie is not the daughter of the Colonel, but of a certain General St. Orme. She marries Hector, and all ends happily. Bennett's delineation of the Colonel was a most powerful piece of acting; he was loudly applauded throughout, and was called fer at the fall of the cur tain. Mrs. Montgomery, as Julie, acted up to him beautifully. There was something exceedingly artistical in the manner in which she worked up the part gradually to a climax ; there was no rant—no straining after effect ; all was natural—all was artist-like. Mrs. Montgomery, if she continues in the course in which she has begun, is destined, at no distant period, to take a high rank in her profession. King Richard ye Third followed, with Hammond as "ye Kynge," and if Richard was not at all like him, he certainly was the " true" Merry Mo narch. It is a glorious piece of broad burlesque—superior even to the Othello. The house was very well filled. LWAY - BUSINESS IN PARLIA. MENT. MONDAY, MARCH 19. • t eti , , oltiork,Gla sgow , and Coatbridge Railway Bill—" to ex tiuit,the line of the Garnkirk and Glasgow Railway ; to al et o the Company t o ra i se a further sum of money, and t ! e d an, and r Dre4er d amend end a first the Acts relating to the said Railway," time. title 11l itehav en and Maryport Railway Bill—read a . second Isti ct and committed, and referred to the Committee of ethi ill • ”co lci a — and Selby Railway Purchase (No. 2) Bill—read a t , time and committed, and referred to the Committee Kielection, armeasteiand Carlisle Railway Bill—Report considered; landments agreed to • Bill to be engrossed. t °rt h Wales Mineral'Railway—Petition for Bill reported ; rt r eferred to the Select Committee on Standing Orders. Ilierfield and Chesterfield Junction Railway—Petition . for ° l4nill: l °r t ( ! l d; ., Report referred to the Select Committee on %e l e • ket itB st Western Railway Bill—Report cons i dered ; Amend• aCreed to ; Bill to be ingrossed. Ng ft , ‘ 7I ITUTION OF CIVIL ENGI , t2iEERS—MR. THOS. STEELE. 4 c - - night, at the conclusion of the meeting o f th e L on d on itution of Civil Engineers, the distinguished President, bly . .,,, W alker, said, that before separating he hoped the as thth- oald give expression to its gratification in having among lie l x a gain their brother member, the head pacificator of Ire- Vrit h dl ,and the proposition was received by a crowded meeting k r l alld applause. bia f: STY E rose, and a ft er expressing, in energetic terms, tlith-rvent gratitude for such a resplendent compliment from 111 4 t a k b a' l 7, said that he was not going to make a speech, IN, ',tat, having given utterance to o, his own feelings, he ee4ted Permission to say a few words on the part of his the r ,Z He then gave assurance, with deep solemnity, that tei, t as been generated by recent events, in the souls of his theto ll lsn, a spirit of intense gratitude and of attachment 'for: P eOple of England for their conduct, such as never th ei , exstd in Ireland since the creation of the world. He rta utned his seat. Co ls Ax t „ L 'IMISSIONERS OF CUSTOMS. t ejirn to show in columns the names of the Commissioners A g e Board of Customs, in London, with the Age at which Ag e / ; ° l l a appointed to the said Office, and also his pres!nt eitei! fi led Lae Occupation, Calling, or Office (if any), which Pre to being so appointed. Age 1010ce or Occupation held . lana e. when Present immediately preceding appoint- Age. his appointment as Corn s\_ ed. missioner of Customs. Years. Years. 14 , 1 1.11 0 Commis- Chairman of the Corn fiq.,-(7;ilsorlDean, stoner 36 mission of Special Ile- I'lle 11 airman. , Chair- 70 venue Inquiry in the man 45 W. Indies & America. fit it olt. Edward Chairman of the Board :1 1 4r t, Deputy 145 61 / for Auditing the l'ub ke ktnnan 111).b. ••• • • • lie Accounts. 3 / 4 ' e hruond, Esq. 42 73 Secretary to the Board gle of Customs. li Dlien Geo 1 Private Secretary to one 1 ; ,.,„ . _ . Lush 'll 'll ' t sq• ••• • • 26 45 of the Secretaries of . t , e the Treasury. 44 , ii' 4 * Wm. Cost .. 32 57 Barrister-at-Law. tv'egg gin. Ramage 1 Barrigter-at-Law and "'lli Mend). of Parliament. F.: 1 4 C hads. Smith, t Receiver-General of the 52 69 ht ,', •• • • Customs. tah, "• Ste hen i Private Secretary to the 11, ~:' spring Rice 1 24 29 Chancellor of the Ex chequer. It oh, g t // mot° 1 f Secretary to the Admi tt D awson • ..f 50 52 i ratty. „,„ t „ 4 k house, Bth March, 1844 raiN tY MARKET and CITY NEWS. ? ROI TH E MORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAY. ) „.1 . 1) / p, CITY, TUESDAY EVENING. tir 3 . - -The premium on gold at Paris is 14 per mille, ;or r o , at the English Mint price of 31 178.104 d. per ounce !2eh'llnclard god, gives an exchange of 25 504 ;. and the 'hat pat Paris on London at short being 25 65, it follows i 3 0.58 per cent. dearer in London than in Paris. kt• vices from Hamburgh, the price of gold is 4344 per ;4, t s , 4 7nich, at th e E ng lish Mint price of 3/. 17s. 100. per lAt k ; ti.or standard gold, gives an exchange of 13 9i; and t olC ia nge at Hamburgh on London at short being 13 114, 1 '8 that gold is 0.80 per cent. dearer in London than m * - -The English Funds leave off very firmly, ii B „being 981 to 98k, both for'Money and Time. k b • l i unded Debt, and the other securities, remained Vme as in the morning. 3 4 th: S Panish market did not improve upon the Thine f , 11)° ,rnifig being 24i for the Five per Cents., and L'at I, C)- „ t ue Th r ee per Cents. Colombian were 141, and wtl 4 -1-'lv o - and-a-Half per Cents. 57i. Brazil Bonds k_ l lll 4 —at ked 824. N I %additional transactions in Railway Shares have 1 1 1 41 eat , —Bristol and Exeter were 2; Edinburgh 14 ; • A. d:—Bristol Registered, ; Hull and Selby, 104 to s h ,,l to ll & ton, Loan Notes, 1 ; Birmingham, Quarter, ; South Western, Eighths, 4 ; Manchester lad th. - „ tb l,ngham, ; North British, 1 to I ; Norwich F;; 1 R 7 ll ' l On, 5 . South Eastern, Scrip, 11 to 10i ; b•l ell az - ner and rl' le 3 ; York and North Midland, Zital ; ( Ne IS rem um. London Joint Stock ' t enii " H ares were 3l r ; and Union of Australia t hTli : 441 , -4Psew r ate of exchan ge u p on most of the continental Cth e as steady this afternoon. 1711% r ,ollowin g is the official return of the exports . of , 4 11 s i j r ° ll,l the port of London for the week ending 1;0 1 .. 1. last :--Silver Coin to Rotterdam, 29,000 oz. A kJ 'lt, h.‘ket OF EXCHANGE.—(YESTERDAY.) u i erd a , t to p.,_, at ..... CF. 12 64 Gibraltar : 114 re ......... 12 44 Leghorn 3O 65 ...... 2U. 7 Genoa 26 5 A1i..... . ....... 26 0 Milan No. ..... M.B. 14 0 Venice 47 kr, ... b it is,a • dad ; ... ........ 14 0 Naples 384 t —a sight... 25 75 Palermo, per oz ll7 130 u 1: ...... 26 0 Lisbon 53 - e 7 3 • .......... 26 5 Oporto 53 l'allko_llllt ............ 25 5 Rio Janeiro itterZ ur r t on Maine .. 1224 Bahia 23 23 Vi t a g l l , 3 Us... 364 Buenos Avres • ........ .... 7 NewYork,2ldys sight )4, 4 4., dit,”- fl' 3 M. 958 Philadelphia d.. ••0 ......... 959 PRICES OF BULLION, PER OZ. z ................. 36+ Foreign Gold, bars..£3 17 9 ............... 364 Portugal Gold Coin 317 5 i ll . 36 New Doubloons..... 0 0 0 . • ••. .......... 36 N ew D o ll ars O4 9i .......... Silver in tars 0 4 114 el k rte. I G oil,:. Lm oun.—There has been som e goss i p In town these few days past, to the effect that irttd „_ whose trial before the High Court here lately f :web inters t, had been acain •-nrrelmded on a n t k e ''r a similar nature. We bettere it to be eit• ".111 ed•C •have t 4 . • erta • the Gl• s •on papers no a Nit be4t it • Th 3 a has been ed,. e rumour, however, greedily .cotentan. C. SCOVELL, Secretary. ANTI-LEAGUE MEETING AT ABERDEEN. (From the Aberdeen Herald.) A fortnight ago, when we recorded the miserable failure of the first attempt to get up a county meet ing in support of the corn-laws, we expressed our belief that, if the landlords and factors were deter mined, they might, by resorting to the same means they had used to procure signatures to the requisi tion, still succeed in filling the Court-house with their adherents. It would seem, however, that we gave them credit for more influence than they really possess. The great demonstration came off yester day, and, but for the presence of a number of people belonging to the city, most of whom are free-traders, the meeting, after all, would have been, comparatively speaking, a thin one. We believe we are accurate in stating that, of the five thousand requisitionists, there were not present more than from three to four hundred. Long after the hour of meeting, there was room both in the galleries and the body of the house (which holds only some six or seven hundred), and when, in the end, it was nearly or quite filled, an estimate of the amount of the hissing with which the resolutions were received showed clearly that there was a strong minority willing to express dissent, although prevented, by the constitution of the meeting from giving any other opposition. The general character of the proceedings was just what might have been expected from a set of men who have always been hostile to free discussion, and who, in this particular instance, felt that they had nothing but misstatement and sophistry to advance. A gentleman in the gallery wished to ask a question, for information, of one of the speakers, but he was •immediately put down by the Chairman ; while Mr. Lumsden, of Pitcaple—to the great admiration of his chief tenant, the miller—got up in a state of the greatest excitement, and, with a loud tone and violent gesticulation, demanded that the questioner should be put out. After all the resolutions had been passed —or rather, after they had been proposed in the slump, and a show made of passing them—another gentleman got up, not to offer opposition, but simply to direct attention to a point that had been omitted. With some difficulty he obtained a hearing to his proposition, but that was all; the Chairman immediately told him that he had no right to speak—for nothing, it would seem, could be introduced but what had been arranged in the programme. Even Mr. Forbes, of Boyndlie—as stanch a Protectionist as was there—was snubbed and put down, because, instead of confining himself to abuse of the League and support of the corn-laws, he ventured to throw out some hints illustrative of his currency crotchet or theory. A few of the tenant-farmers were ostentatiously brought forward to propose or second resolutions, but they did nothing more ; they hardly ventured a sentence to explain their silence, and as for reasoning in support of the statement they had the honour of reading, they seemed to think that altogether unnecessary. The Chairman attempted to put a stop even to the sounds of disapprobation that were from time to time uttered ; but in this he did not succeed, although he went the length, more than once, of hinting at physical force as a means of effecting his object. This is the way in which the landlords choose to dis cuss an important and complicated question. Such is their novel mode of deliberation! Well, so be it. We have no wish to quarrel with the means which our oppo nents take to advance their cause. The folly of resort ing to public meetings and preventing open discussion must sooner or later recoil on their own heads. The real effect of such procedure was indicated in the taunts with which their hurried separation was greeted. Men who pretend to give a reason for their opinion, and yet are afraid to listen to a word of reply, or even ex planation, will never carry conv i c ti on i nto the minds of their fellow-countrymen. The four thousand six hundred requisitionists who were absent, and the hun dred and fifty thousand inhabitants of Aberdeenshire who neither signed nor were present, will look with great suspicion on arguments that cannot bear ex amination. The first speaker was the convener, Mr. Grant of Tillyfour. If, as was obviously the case, he intended to make an impression by the quasi facts he adduced relative to the price at which foreign wheat and barley can be imported, he will, we sus pect find himself grievously mistaken. Were it true, as Mr. Grant alleges—borrowing from some dishonest pamphlets put forth by the wholesale furnishers of protection fallacies—that wheat could be imported into this country—better wheat, too, than we can grow in Aberdeenshire (but which, after all, is not saying much)—at 20s. or 255. less per quarter than we pay for it, what is to be thought of the law that robs us so monstrously ? Of wheat alone there is consumed, in the United Kingdom, twelve or thirteen millions of quarters annually. What do our readers think of a system that, according to Mr. Grant's state ment, takes the large proportion of from twelve to sixteen millions sterling a year from the consumer. and puts it into the pockets of the landowners, and this on one kind of agricultural produce alone ! The con sumption of other sorts of grain is upwards of forty mil lions of quarters, and allowing even that half of this is never brought to market, but reserved for seed, feeding the agriculturists, their servants, and their horses, we shall have another four or five millions to add to the landlords' tax. Had Mr. Grant been hired by the League to exaggerate the burden of the corn -laws, he could not have taken a better method than this to show that they rob the consumers of a sum, according to his own esti mate, of from sixteen to twenty millions sterling every year. There has been grumbling about the twenty millions:granted to the West Indian slave-owners, and we still complain of the tax imposed by their sugar mono poly—which, assuredly, is no mean grievance, being something upwards of five millions a-year ; but both taken together are a trifle, compared with this perpetual drain of twenty millions a-year, which, according to Mr. Grant, is taken from the poor bread-eaters, DEATH OF MR. J. F. BLAKE. Never had we a more painful duty to discharge than this which now devolves upon us in announcing the death—the sudden and unexpected death of a gentleman, long con nected with this establi s h men t , an d respecte d and esteemed by its governing authorities, its numerous proprietors, and the public generally, in the direct ratio in which the pro gress of time and extending associations afforded means of appreciating his character and intrinsic merit—a man whose worth could be truly estimated only as circumstances afforded scope for its development, and of whom, in a word, it may be said-that be faithfully, efficiently, and zealously discharged all the duties of the several stations in which Providence placed him. When we announce the death of Mr. James Frederick Blake, the Secretary of the Incorpo rated Society of Licensed Victuallers, in whose service he had been engaged for the long period of thirty-five years, and whose members have on more than one occasion pre sented to him distinct and enduring testimonials of their appro bation, we feel that we announce a calamity that will be de plored, not only by every member of the Society, but by every one favoured with Mr. Blake's acquaintance, or with his private or public association. The painful event took place on Monday night, and the following are its particu lars, as elicited at th e i nquest h e ld l ast n i ght i n this office : Last night an inquest was held before Mr. Payne, in the Committee-room of the Morning Advertiser office. There was an unusually full attendance of most respectable trades men and residents of the neighbourhood, to serve as jurymen. The room was thronged; and among the gentlemen present were the Governor (Mr. Keasley), several members of the Committee, &c. Mr. Blake's servant stated that her master not coming down to breakfast about the usual hour, and that having subsequently knocked at his door, without receiving any answer, she informed Mr. Blake's sister, Mrs. Berry, who resided with him, of the circumstance. Mrs. Berry went, and entered the room, and then ascertained that her brother was dead. Medical aid was immediately sent for. The servant was particularly examined as to Mr. Blake's habits, and what she had observed of his health. She said that she had only observed him to have a slight cough. She saw him shortly before eleven o'clock the previous night. He generally sat up till twelve o'clock, or there abouts, to read. She had not the remotest reason to be lieve otherwise than that the death was occasioned by na tural causes. The attendance of Mr. Blake's sister before the jury was dispensed with under the melancholy circum stances, as it was clear that to require her presence could only lead to her agitation, without adding to the testimony already given. Mr. M'Laughlin, the publisher of the Morning Advertiser, deposed to having seen Mr. Blake in his counting-house on the previous evening ; at which time Mr. B. was pursuing his usual avocations with the account-books of the office. Dr. Sheridan, the editor of the Morning Advertiser, being present, was requested to state what he knew of Mr. Blake's health, as well as the habits of that gentleman. In answer to the coroner's inquiry, Dr. S. stated he was a Doctor of Medicine, and, as a professional man (having mentioned that he had seen Mr. Blake on the previous evening, at or about ten o'clock, on the business of the office) that it would be difficult to decide whether the immediate cause of death was a disease of the heart, ossifica tion, or, as it is termed, angina pectoris; or effusion of blood on the brain. Mr. Blake had, on some previous occasions, complained of pain in the shoulder, which was indicative of the heart being affected ; but, from other circumstances, he was rather inclined to believe that the death was caused by effusion of blood on the brain. The deceased had not made any serious complaints regarding the state of his health, but he had no doubt whatever that the death ensued from na tural causes. Mr. Ray, also a medical gentleman. and who was willed in immediately after the discovery of Mr. Blake's position, supported Dr. Sheridan's testimony as to the cause of Mr. Blake's death. During the investigation a qhestion arose as to the age of Mr. Blake, Mr. Best, of Queen Anne street, Marylebone (a member of the Committee), stated that about a month ago Mr. Blake mentioned to him that he was then 58 years of age. The coroner having submitted the case to the jury, they immediately returned the verdict of " Natural death." In early life Mr. Blake was associated with the Mechanics' Institute, and, supported by the late Dr. Birkbeck, edited a periodical publication connected with that Society. When the Mechanics' Instit u t e , Southampton-buildings, was opened, Mr. Blake was not onlyauefficient member at its Committee, but an active attendant on the lectures delivered in the the atre ; nor did his zeal end there ; for, amid the , laborious oc cupations that he had to fulfil in this office, he found time to prepare full, and remarkably neat and clear reports of such lectures, of which reports were afterwards published in the columns of the Morning Advertiser. The fact deserves to be mentioned now, not only as proof of Mr. Blake's tasteful and cultivated intellect, but as highly complimentary to his judgment, for he then saw how valuable were the tendencies of those institutions, which, instead of being reported, were, with the single exception of the Morning Advertiser, everywhere frowned upon. The literary taste and artistical science which he then cultivated had, in his subsequent course of life, many opportunities of display, but he contented himself with their unostentatious exercise. The words and music of the Hymn sung at the recent Jubilee Festival were of his composition ; and little did those who heard that Hymn, or witnessed the hale and joyous manner in which Mr. Blake participated in the festivity, anticipate that he should be so soon and suddenly called from the career of usefulness to which his life had been devoted. Our purpose is not to write an elaborate panegyric, but simply to record the more prominent facts of a valued and and valuable life. The untiring assiduity of Mr. Blake in his official capacity—his anxious vigilance over the interests of the Society—his readiness at all times to afford information to its members on all matters upon which i n f orma ti on m i g h t be sought, and his unswerving integrity, elicited the uni versal respect of the Corporation; whil e hi s soc i a l qua li t i es, his general urbanity, and mild and genial flow of generous sympathy, endeared him to all favoured with his intimacy.— Advertiser. MR. SPENCER T. HALL AND THE HALIFAX MESMERIC COMMISSION. (FRost A CORRESPONDENT.) We noticed last week that the startling experiments of Mr. Hall, the Mesmerist, had led to the formation by the liberal-minded medical gentlemen at Halifax, of a Commis sion of Inquiry into the phenomena of Mesmerism. This Commission sat four times, and Mr. Hall exhibited before them the experiments he had performed in public, as well as some others of a more subtle and important character. What occurred at the first two meetings was not published; but it was then deemed advisable that each medical gentleman should have the liberty of admitting three non-professional gentlemen of his acquaintance. The sittings have been held in the lecture-room of the Literary and Philosophical So ciety; and as Mr. Hall was about leaving Halifax, the fol lowing resolutions, after many severe and critical tests, were come to on Thursday last, W. Briggs, Esq., occupying the chair : 1. " That the manner in which Mr. Spencer T. Hall has brought his experiments before the meeting is such as to en tiele him to its confidence in his integrity. 2. " That the phenomena witnessed are indicative of an influence (whether a c ti ng d i rectly, or through some mental process) which leads to actions independent of, or contrary to, the volition of the persons acted upon. 3. " That this Committee considers it desirable that the subject be still further investigated by medical men and others interested, in order, if possible, to extend a knowledge of the laws which regulate vital phenomena. 4. " That the thanks of the Committee be tendered to Mr. Hall, and to the parties who submitted to be operated upon, for the patient and satisfactory manner in which their ser vices have been rendered during this investigation." It is hoped, says the Halifax Guardian, that this inquiry will continue to be carried on, though Mr. Hall has left the town ; and that medical men will attempt at their own houses those experiments which he produces in public, and which, if mesmerism be true, at least some of them can also effect in private. At the conclusion of the proceedings, Mr. Hall expressed his determination not to relax in his own search after the im portant principles indicated by the phenomena brought be fore them ; and said he should be glad to aid in any future rational inquiry at Halifax or elsewhere. He was under in vitation to several of the most important provincial cities and towns, and should c er t a i n l y v i sit them w i t h this view, if his engagements in London, which are of great importance, would permit him. DREADFUL SHIPWRECKS. TWENTY LIVES LOST. Within the last three or four days the destruction of two fine Liverpool ships has been reported at Lloyd's, namely, the Georgiana, Captain Wilson (a barque), two hundred and twenty-seven tons burthen, and the Caroline, Captain Jack son, burthen nearly six hundred tons, the amount of which losses, it is said, is little short of 45,000/., and what renders the wrecks more painful is, that they were attended with the loss of upwards of twenty lives. The intelligence concerning I the Georgiana came to hand at a late hour last evening. It appears that she left Liverpool for Arica, in South America, with a general cargo, on the morning of Saturday last, a stiffish breeze blowing at the time. She, however, proceeded favourably until the morning of the following day, when she was driven with much force on to a dangerous shoal, called the Blackwater Bank, about nine miles to the north-east of Wexford. Every endeavour was made to get her off; but the gale still increasing, she was completely driven right over the bank into deep water. The commander instantly ordered the fore-anchor to be let go, in order that she might be brought up. This had the desired effect for a short time, but she soon broke adrift again, and a second anchor was then dropped. At that period, however, it was found that the vessel was fast sinking; and a cry was raised " To the boats !" They were speedily lowered, and the crew quickly shoved off from the ill-fated barque, and used all their exertions to gain the land. The surf was running tremendously strong, and the wind was as equally boisterous. The boat, fnotwithstanding made way until they had nearly approached the beach, when they were hurled bottom upwards, and the crew as, quickly thrown into the sea. Some of the unfortunate fel lows tried to regain the boats; others attempted to swim ashore ; but out of the whole number, consisting of four teen persons, only two survived, W. Curren, chief mate, and David M'Lean, seaman, the remainder, including the captain, perishing amidst the breakers. The Georgiana sub sequently foundered in twelve fathom water, and, conse quently, is a complete loss. She was the property of Mr. J. Worral, of Liverpool, and it is reported that her loss will amount to 30,0001., a great deal of which is insured. The Caroline was a fine packet ship, and belonged to Wilson and Dawson, of Chapel-walk, Liverpool. She left that port in the early part of last week, with a general outward-bound cargo for Africa, her crew consisting of twenty-nine persons. On her arrival off the Welsh coast, it came on to blow very hard, and Captain Jackson deemed it prudent to run for the Studwell Roads for shelter. The entrance had scarcely been gained before both her anchors were obliged to be dropped for her safety. The gale increased from the W.N.W. with a tremendous rolling sea on, and after weathering for some time, she was driven from her moorings on to the rocks on the westernmost Studwell Islands, and quickly went to pieces. The captain and some of the unfortunate fellows swam to the island, but were as soon swept off by the surf and perished. The remainder of the crew saved themselves by the jolly and long boats, although in a most dreadful state of exhaus tion. Iler loss will be very heavy, and she is partially in sured in the city. Loss OF THE GEORGIANA. — By a letter received at Lloyd's, from 'Wexford, under date the 17th inst., the following addi tional particulars of the loss of the Georgiana, from Liver pool,destination, at A.M. are extracted This vessel, c omman d e d b y Wil 1, on the 17th, s t ruc k h eav il y on and left Liver pool, s b u o n t s- aboutoa n s b s o ua four rr to da the the Blackwater Bank, beat over it into deeper water, When both anchors were let go, at about one :mile from, the beach. The crew took to the boat, which was shortly capsized, and twelve out of the fourteen men in her were unfortunately drowned. The vessel sunk in about twelve fathoms water. The men saved are Willi am Curren, chief mate, and David M'Lean, seaman. Little of the cargo is expected to be saved, as the ship lies in deep water and a strong tide runs between the Blackwater Bank and the main. THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT TO LORD W. HILL.— The unfortunate youth, named Palmer, who had a fall from the same horse which his Lordship rode, after lingering until the evening, expired. His head and all parts of his body were severely bruised, and this accident has occasioned the greatest distress to the mother, a widow, with nine children, who has very slender mem of supporting so large a family. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. NORFOLK ClRCUlT.—Bedford, March 18. (Before Mr. Justice PArrEso.). James Booth was indicted for having maliciously and un lawfully set fire to a stack of barley, the property of William Squire. The only evidence against the prisoner was that he had been seen near the stack when the fire took place. He was acquitted. James Asplin and Thomas Elsome were charged with wounding William Bird, with intent to maim, disfigure, and do him some grievous bodily harm. Mr. Gunning and Mr. Birch appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. O'Malley defended the prisoners. The prosecutor is an under-keeper, or watcher, who, having received instructions to preserve the game in a wood and certain fields over which some gentlemen had received per mission from the occupier to shoot, proceeded on the night of the 27th of December last to the wood, in consequence of having heard a gun in that direction. As soon as he got into the field adjoining the wood, he saw the two prisoners emerge from it through a gap, Asplin being then armed with a gun, while Elsome bore in his hand something which looked very like a cock pheasant. Notwithstanding the disparity of forces, Bird walked up to them, and, challenging them with being "on trespass poaching," proceeded to collar Elsome, while he intimated his intention to hand them both over to the law. The time, place, and circumstances were, unfortunately, too suited for a fray, and Asplin in a moment dealt the keeper a severe blow on the head, which brought him to his knees. As he retained his hold, however, and persisted in so doing, the two poachers then set upon him, and breaking the gun over his head, inflicted several severe cuts and wounds, which ultimately had the desired effect. As soon as they had made off the poor man crawled home and, giving the alarm, took his bed, from which he did not rise for seven days, during which time he was almost out of his senses, and in a most critical condition. and they went towards the car. Mr. Mortimer soon came towards his house, walking by the chapel, in the belfry of which Laurence Dowling posted himself. The other Dowling stood at the lower chapel gate. The deceased got between the prisoners, and Laurence Dowling struck him down, and, extraordinary to say, they so soon effected their purpose, that he lived only three hours afterwards. Delany, the approver, was then examined, and corroborated the statement of Counsel in opening the case. On his cross examination he admitted being concerned in the murder of Mr. Hoyne, since the above murder. He also admitted that he had been at the beating of two Connaught men, but he could not say if either of them died. He went to steal a cow from a man who owed him 205., but did not do so. He broke into a house at night, and took a pistol one day. He was with those who robbed a man of his papers. The CHIEF JUSTICE summed up, and at half-past nine o'clock the jury returned a verdict of Not Guilty. The CHIEF JUSTICE then ordered that the men should be discharged. Mr. O'MALLEY submitted that as the prosecutor had no legal authority to arrest the prisoners, for he was not the servant of the occupier or possessor of the wood, or the lord of the manor wherein it was situated, this indictment could not be sustained. ➢lr. Justice PArrEsoN was clearly of opinion that, sup posing the arrest of Elsome was ever so illegal, Asplin could not be justified in assaulting and wounding Bird. The pri soners having been found Guilty, they were sentenced to be transported for fifteen years. His LORDSHIP then disposed of several other cases, includ ing one of arson, in which the prisoner was charged with hav ing set fire to a pigstye. It appeared that the stye was in a yard attached to a house, and inclosed. Mr. PRENDERGAST, for the prisoner, submitted that the pigstye in question was not an outhouse within the meaning of the Act. The point taken by the Learned Counsel having been reserved for future discussion before the fifteen Judges, the prisoner was convicted upon the facts, and at a late hour his Lordship proceeded to Huntingdon, whither Lord Abin ger had gone at an earlier hour, in order that preparations might be made for commencing the business of that county the first thing to-morrow morning, there being an unusual quantity of business in that lively town. OXFORD ClRCUlT.—Shrewsbury, March 18. This morning, at ten, Mr. Baron Parke entered the Crown Court, and Mr. Justice Coleridge presided on the Civil Side. There are only 20 prisoners for trial, and, with the excep tion of four, they are charged only with the commission of larcenies of a very trivial character. William Rowland was indicted for a felonious assault upon one Edward Turner, with intent to maim and disfigure him. The prisoner, it appeared, had been drinking on Tuesday the 23d of last January, at the Horse Shoe public-house, at Dorrington, in this county, with some others, amongst whom was the prosecutor ; while there, an altercation arose in which Rowland and Turner both took an active part ; they were, however, separated by the bystanders, and the dispute seemed to have subsided. Soon after, Rowland left the house, and in about half an hour was followed by the prosecutor, whose way home coincided with his. He had not, however, ad vanced many yards along the road, when the prisoner, who had been apparently waiting for the purpose, commenced a furious attack on him in the dark, and succeeded in knocking him down ; while he was lying prostrate the prisoner knelt upon him, drew his knife, a formidable instrument of its kind, and inflicted several desperate wounds upon his face. Some witnesses were called, who gave the man a good character as far as regarded ordinary quiet conduct and de meanour, but, as it was impossible to negative the charge in the present instance, he was, after a very brief deliberation, convicted. His Lonnsnzp deferred passing sentence. Joseph Tirißetts, aged 17, was charged with feloniously firing a barn and four stacks of hay, grain, and clover, the property of Joseph Morris. Mr. Allen prosecuted. Joseph Morris, a farmer, living near Halesowen, examined by Mr. ALLEN—On the 10th of February I left home; every thing was then safe. On my return home that night I found my barns, stacks of hay, grain, and clover, nearly burnt to the ground. I immediately set to work to assist in putting out the flames. The neighbours were all similarly engaged. The prisoner was the only one on the premises who rendered no assistance, and he was standing idly by the stables, as he said, to prevent the horses from kicking. I asked him some time after to help at the fire, but he continued loitering about the stables. George Graham, superintendent of the Halesowen Police— On the following day charged prisoner with the commission of the offence. He stated when in custody that he had some lucifer matches, which he had purchased in Halesowen on the Tuesday before the fire, but had thrown them away. Some time after I heard him, as if talking to himself, say, " Oh, good God ! it must have been me who set the barn on fire—if I had a knife I could cut my own throat ;" and soon after he expressed a wish to see his master. His LonDsiiir having summed up, the jury immediately found the prisoner Guilty, and he was sentenced to be trans ported for life. • NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—York, March 18. CROWN COURT.—(Before Mr. Baron ROLFE.) ' Thomas Walker was indicted for forging and uttering, knowing the same to be forged, a certain interim order in bankruptcy for the protection of the person and goods of an insolvent debtor from arrest and execution. The case being called on, Mr. WORTLEY rose and said he appeared as the representative of the Attorney-General, by whom this prosecution was instituted on the part of the Crown ; but he believed the Counsel for the defendant wished to submit some observations to the Court. Mr. WiLKINs then rose and said that himself and his Learned Friend Mr. Pashley had looked carefully into the case, and they had come to the conclusion that they could not resist the case, which they knew would be proved against the defendant; and as no effectual defence could be made, they had advised the defendant to plead guilty, which advice he was ready to follow. Mr. WORTLEY said that in that case he should not deem it necessary to proceed upon any other charge against the de fendant. there were two other indictments ; one for obtain ing money by false pretences, and another like the indict ment now before the Court. The course which he proposed to adopt, was to take the plea of guilty upon the indictment before them, upon which the defendant would receive the judgment of the Court. To take a verdict of " not guilty" upon the indictment for false pretences, would discharge the jury from giving any verdict upon the other. The defendant having surrendered and pleaded Guilty to the indictment on which he stood charged. The Learned JUDGE inquired what was the nature of the charge? Mr. WORTLEY then stated that the defendant had been in the habit of practising in the District Court of Bankruptcy at Leeds, and having undertaken the case of an insolvent debtor there, he gave to the debtor an interim order, pur porting to be signed by Mr. Bere, one of the Commissioners of that Court, as a protection to the insolvent and his goods against arrest and execution by any of the creditors. .To this order the defendant had forged the name of Mr. Com missioner Bere. Some witnesses were then called to his character, and The defendant was then directed to stand down, the Learned JUDGE saying he would make some inquiries, and consider what sentence he should pass. John Rose and Thomas Turner were indicted for feloniously assaulting William Askew, on the highway, at Gilding Wells, in the West Riding, and stealing from his person four and a half sovereigns, a silver watch, a gold chain, a gold key and gold seal, his property. The case was proved, and the jury. Teturned a verdict of Guilty against both prisoners. To be transported beyond the seas for 15 years. IRISH ASSIZES. KILKENNY, March 1 6. MURDER OF MR. JOHN MORTIMER.—The Lord Chief Jus tice took his seat on the bench at nine o'clock, and the long panel being called over, the absent jurors were fined 5/. each for non-attendance. The Court was soon crowded, it being known that the trial of those accused of the murder of Mr. Mortimer, at Freshford, was about to be proceeded with. Laurence fouling and Thomas fowling were then placed at the bar, charged with tke wilful murder of John Mortimer, by Laurence Dowling striking him with a stick on the right side of the head inflicting a mortal wound, of which he died in the space of three hours, and that Thomas Dowling was aiding and assisting. Mr. BREWSTER, Q.C. (who came down specially), stated the case for the Crown. The two prisoners at the bar were the sons of a man named Thomas Dowling, and who for many y ears lived in the townland of Ballylarkin, a mile and a quarter from the village of Freslift rd. The father had been a tenant of the late Mr. Mortimer, and the latter got into litigation with Dowling, who disputed his title to the lands; the result was that the deceased brought an eject ment, old Dowling was defeated, and the deceased received possession of the land in the year 1840. Ile was, however, induced to grant a lease to the sons of the old man, the prisoners at the bar. The lease was executed on the 25th of August, 1840, under which the prisoners were to hold twenty acres of land for the space of seven years. Some penal clauses were inserted in the lease, end about the year 1841 or 1842, the tenants not having fulfilled their part of the covenant, disputes arose, and Mr. Mortimer took proceedings in the Civil Bill Court against the prisoners, which were successful. This did not, however, put an end to the litigation; and in the course of the autumn of 1842 he employed Mr. Hyland to take further proceedings, which he did, by issuing a capias. The prisoners then came to terms, agreed to give up the possession of the farm, and to pass two notes for six pounds each, payable at two distinct periods. This arrangement was partly carried into effect on the 25th of November, 1842, by the surrender of the lease, and the murder took place on the 29th, the day sub sequent to that on which possession should have been given up. In the neighbourhood of the farm, at a distance of a mile, there lived a person of the name of Tracy, whose name bad been heard before the present period in the criminal annals of the county, and whose house was the receptacle ofthe most dangerous and infamous characters. Among others, he was intimate with a man named William Delany. Possession not being given, Thomas Dowling, one of the prisoners, came to the house of Tracy, and stated there that he would rather die upon a dunghill than give up the land ; but, although on the day of that visit, the 28th of November, nothing definite was ar ranged with reference to the murder of Mr. Mortimer, it would be proved that the object Dowling had in view was to procure the co-operatian of Delany, who, being a native of the county of Tipperary, was not known in Freshford, and, therefore, a more desirable instrument. Mr. Mortimer, finding that the Dowling did not come to execute the notes, determined on proceeding into Kilkenny on the 29th, in order to consult his attorney; and, becoming aware of his intention, Thomas Dowling, at break of day the same morn ing, returned to Tracy's, and he then proposed to Delany to comer to his house, w = here arrangements would be made to meet And waylay Mr. Mortimer on his return from Kilkenny. In the course of that day, the 29th, Mr. Mortimer pro ceeded to Kilkenny in the public van, to consult with his attorney ; and Delany, in company with the prisoner Thomas Dowling, came to the house of the latter at ten or eleven o'clock on that day. Mr. Brewster next proceeded to explain the place where the murder was committed, which was in the town of Freshford, opposite the chapel, and near Mr. Mortimer's house, which was higher up and farther re moved from the Kilkenny-road. Alter some delay, the Dow lingS • did not come up, and night falling, Delany proceeded towards the house of the deceased, who lived net far from the chapel, and stood in a stream, so as to see Mortimer coining. Delany then saw the prisoners coming, and the Wise of the car was heard as it approached from Eilkenny, COURT CIRCULAR. The Queen and Prince Albert walked yesterday morning, in Claremont Park. His Royal Highness Prince Albert afterwards rode out on horseback, attended by Sir Edward Bowater, Equerry in Waiting. The Prince returned to Claremont to lunch. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, and the Princess Alice, were taken airings yesterday, in the grounds in Claremont Park. At ten minutes past three o'clock, yesterday afternoon, her Majesty and Prince Albert, accompanied by her Royal Highness the Princess Royal, left Claremont, in a carriage and four, for town. Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Princess Alice, accompanied by the Dowager Lady Lyttelton, were iu the next carriage ; and Colonel the Hon. Charles Grey, Equerry in Waiting on her Majesty, and Major-General Sir Edward Bowater, Equerryin Waiting on his Royal Highness, occupied another carriage and four. The Royal party arrived at Buckingham Palace, escorted by a party of Light Drageons, at twenty minutes before five o'clock. The Queen and Prince Albert were received at Buck ingham Palace by the Lord Chamberlain, the Master of the Horse, the Vice-Chamberlain, the Viscountess Jocelyn, Lady in Waiting; the Hon. Misses Murray and Liddell, Maids of Honour; the Marquis of Ormonde, Lord in Waiting; and Sir Frederick Stovin, Groom in Waiting. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, and Lady Fanny Howard, Lady in Waiting, dined with her Majesty and Prince Albert yesterday evening, at Buckingham Palace. A Cabinet Council was held at two o'clock yesterday after noon, at the Foreign-office. It was attended by Sir Robert Peel, the Duke of Wellington, Lord Wharncliffe, the Duke of Buccleuch, the Earl of Aberdeen, Lord Stanley, Sir James Graham, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Earl of Had dington, Earl of Ripon, Mr. Gladstone, Sir Henry Hardinge, and Sir Edward Knatchbull. The Lord Chancellor arrived at the Foreign-office soon after three o'clock, and joined his colleagues. The Council sat two hours. His Excellency M. Dedel, transacted business with Lord Aberdeen yesterday at the Foreign-office. His Excellncy Baron Brunnow also transacted business at the Foreign office yesterday. Earl Delawarr had an interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday, at his official residence, in Down ing-street. The Ecclesiastical Commission for England had a meeting yesterday afternoon, at the office, in Whitehall-place. The Commissioners present were the Archbishop of Canterbury-, the Bishop of London, the Bishop of Bangor, the Bishop of Chester, the Bishop of Hereford, the Bishop of Lichfield, the Bishop of Pt terborough, the Bishop of Rochester, the Earl of Besborough, the Right Hon. H. Hobhouse, the Right Hon. Sir George Grey, and the Dean of Westminster. A deputation of the Anti-Slavery Society, consisting of Joseph Sturge, Stafford Allen, Joseph Cooper, J. H. Hinton, and Henry Sterry, had an interview with the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone yesterday at the office of the Board of Trade. Mr. John Wood, Chairman of the Excise, and Mr. Higham, Secretary and Comptroller-General to the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt, had interviews with the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday. Sir E. Knatchbull arrived in town on Monday. AMERICAN SLAVERY.-CASE OF JOHN L. BROWN. —On Thursday evening one of the most numerous, and, at the same time, most interesting, meetings of the members and friends of the Glasgow Emancipation Society, which has taken place for many years, was held in the Rev. Mr. Ander son's church, John-street, for the purpose of remonstrating against so flagrant a violation of the rights of humanity, as is involved in the conduct of the authorities of South Carolina, in sentencing John L. Brown to be hanged for the crime of aiding the escape of a female slave. Previous to the hour announced for the commencement of business (half-past seven) the church was crowded in every part by a highly respectable audi ence, and shortly after the numbers increased so much as to cause, by the pressure, very much inconvenience. There were upwards of 2,000 persons present, and, at least, an equal number had to go away from want of accommodation. Indeed the interest manifested in the proceedings on this occasion exceeded anything which has been exhibited in connection with this Society for many years past. There has been no anti-slavery meeting equal to it in Glasgow since the cele brated discussion between Messrs. Thompson and Borthwick, and it most pointedly demonstrated the intensity of the public feeling in this city on the subject for which the meeting was convened.— Glasgow Argus. THE LAST CAMPAIGN IN AFFGHANISTAN.—We are requested to state that Mr. Colburn, of Great Marl borough-street, has this day published " The Narrative of the last Campaign in Affgharnstan, under General Pollock," by Lieut. Greenwood, of her Majesty's 31st Regiment ; form ing a Companion to the Narratives of Lady Sale, and Lieut. Eyre, in 1 vol. small Bvo., with Illustrations, price 125., bound, which can now be had of all booksellers. Mr. Col burn has also just published the following ; —.1. The pro hibited Comedy, " Richelieu in Love ; or, The Youth of Charles the First," with a Preface Explanatory, Bvo., 4s. 6d. —2. Lieut.-Col. Napier's Wild Sports in Europe, Asia, and Africa, 2 vols. small Bvo., with Illustrations, 21s. bound.- 3. The Light Dragoon, by the Author of " The Subaltern," &c., 2 vole., 21s. bound.-4. Whimsicalities, by Thomas Hood, Esq., 2 vols., small Bvo., with numerous Illustrations, by Leech, 21s. bound.-5. Agnes Strickland's Lives of th Queens of England, New and Revised Edition. Last evening, shortly before six o'clock, an alarm ing fire broke out at the Cooper's Arms public-house, in Huntingdon-street, Hoxton. The inmates and neighbours endeavoured to extinguish the flames, but, owing to the strong hold they had obtained, they spread with astonishing rapidity. The parish engine was soon on the spot, followed by three brigade engines and the West of England. An im mediate supply of water being obtained, the three first en gines poured a great torrent of water upon the flames, but some time elapsed before the Sire was completely out. The fire originated froth a spark flying out of the fire amongst the furniture inj the room. Mr. Benton is insured in the Atlas Fire-odes, GAL WAY, March 15. SPORTING ACTION-QUALIFICATION OF IRIS!' GENTLEMEN. This was an action which arose out of the Athlone races, in which Michael Kelly, Esq., of Myrehill, was plaintiff, and William James Young, Esq., Lieutenant of 'he 90th Regi ment, was defendant. The action was brought for the re covery of a plate, value 557., won by plaintiff's horse Bacchus, at the races in that town, in September last, but which the defendant refused to pavplaintiff, in consequence of an objec tion made by one ot the riders, Mr. Moore, of Moorehall, against Mr. Kelly, the rider of Bacchus, alleging his want of qualification, as a gentleman, to ride the race. The jury found a verdict for the plaintiff for the amount of the plate, and 6d. costs. The Galway Vindicator says, " It was proved by several gentlemen of the highest rank in the county, that they were always happy to meet Mr. Kelly in their society, as a man of the purest integrity, and yet, because Lady Clanricarde, Mrs. Laurence, Mrs. Blake, of Castlegrovc, or Mrs. Lynch, of Moynehill, do not come in their carriages and leave their visiting cards for Mrs. Kelly, of Myrehill, Mr. Kelly is not qualified as a gentleman, nor ought he to look for his just debts—so argues Mr. Fitzgibbon, because he is descended from Con of the 100 battles—but the idea was scouted in the nineteenth century. On the trial, one witness swore the present Lord Chancellor was no gentleman." POOR-LAW RIOTS. Patrick 3PDonough, and forty other persons, were indicted for rioting and obstructing the police, whilst employed in pro • tecting a poor-rate collector, in enforcing payment of the tax. Mr. CLOSE, counsel for the accused, stated to the Court that they regretted their conduct, and would plead guilty. Baron RICHARDS, after admonishing the prisoners, directed that they should enter into personal recognizance,s to come up for judgment, if called upon. The prisoners entered into the required sureties, and were discharged. ANNOYANCE JURIES. Last evening, a Committee of tradesmen, elected at a meeting held on Wednesday last, an account of which appeared in The Sun of the Saturday evening following, took place at the Windsor Castle Tavern, Long-acre, for theurpose of taking into considerati on th e b es t an d speediest method of effecting an alteration in the Act of Parliament relating to the regulations respecting ' 4 weights and measures" and the " annoyance juries." Mr. MARSHALL, tea dealer, of No. 20, Strand, having been unanimously called to the chair, in a brief speech explained the objects of the meeting , . He said he would mention one astounding f ac t, in addition to what he had already stated, in proof of the absolute necessity of a speedy alteration being effected in the present system pursued by the Annoyance Juries, viz, that the jurymen have actually been inflicting penalties on those trades men who, rather, as they imagined, than subject them selves to their caprice, have preferred giving the pur chaser the benefit of over weight. Was this, he would ask, carrying out the objects of the Act of Parliament ? Was what he referred to an act of dishonesty ? If not, why were upright, honest tradesmen, paying heavy rents and taxes, to be thus subjected to such inconvenience and injury to their business by this perversion of the Act of Parliament ? He would explain the reason. It was on account of the fees arising out of the numerous and frequent fines, which fill the pockets of the High Bailiff, the burgesses, jury, and others. A tradesman being fined had no ap peal, unless it was to the parties by whom he had been fined. The fines for the last month, in Westminster, amounted to 381. 7s. 6d., which for one year gave a total of 4602 10s. There were, however, other fines, not placed upon the list, the names of the parties so fined having by some means been suppressed. The Chairman then read a portion of the Act relating to the disposal of the penalties. It ran thus :—" The High Bailiff, for the time being, shall be, and he is hereby entitled to one moiety or half part thereof, and shall receive and take the same to his own use ; and the other moiety or half part thereof shall be taken and applied by the Court of Burgesses to pay the necessary charges and expenses that shall attend the execution of this Act." Mr. HAYMAN, corn chandler, of the Westminster-road, in alluding to the Annoyance Jury, said that the loss of the standard weights and measures at the time of the destruction by fire of the Houses of Parliament was the cause of many strict investigations bring entered into by the Committees of those Houses touching the manner in which the Act respecting the same was carried out. He would urge the necessity of every Member of the Committee as also their friends, to immediately furnish their Chairman with a written statement of their grounds of complaint, preparatory to a deputation of the Com mittee in company of their Members of Parliament (should the latter comply with their request to accom pany them) waiting upon the Secretary of State for his advice and assistance touching their grievances. Mr. KNIGHT, the Secretary, having read the resolu tions relative to the above, which were put and carried ; a liberal subscription, headed by the Chairman and Mr. Pamphillon, was immediately entered into for the pur pose of furthering the objects of the Committee; and, thanks having been voted to the Chairman, the Commit tee separated. EDUCATION OF CATHOLIC CHILDREN. MEETING IN MARYLEBONE. Yesterday evening a large public meeting took place at t Princess's Theatre, Castle-street, Cavendish-square, for the promotion of the education of the Roman Catholic children of the metropolis. The meeting was convened with more espa cial reference to the support of the Associated Catholic Ch rities of London. Mr. O'CONNELL, M.P., was announced to preside. On entering the , room he was rapturously applauded. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman, in opening the proceedings of the. evening, remarked that hitherto the poor people of this country had received a very limited quantity of education ; now brighter days were dawning, and he felt assured that, as far as the Catholic Church was concerned, it was taking deep hold of the affections of the people.--(Cheers.) The Hon. P H. HOWARD, M.P., mov e d th e first resolu tion, declaratory of the duty of using every exertion to give a more extended moral and religious education to the chil dren of the poor. Mr. ROI3INSON seconded the resolution, which was put and carried nem. con. The Rev. J. MOORE, one of the Ministers of Virginia -street Chapel, Ratcliffe-highway, moved the next resolution, ex pressive of confidence in the course adopted by the directors of the schools to extend their usefulness. Mr. PAGLIANO, of Leicester-square, seconded the resolu tion, which was carried unanimously. The Rev. ➢ir. OWEALE, of St. John's-wood, moved the third resolution, conveying the thanks of the meeting to the " Christian brothers " who had conducted the religious in struction of the children. The resolution having been seconded by the Rev. Mr. KKANE, passed without opposition. Other resolutions, pledging the meeting to the support of these schools, and recommendatory of the formation of so cieties, to which small monthly subscriptions might be made, were agreed to. A vote of thanks was then proposed to the Chairman, and was received with vociferous and long-continued applause. Mr. O'CONNELL rose, and the applause was resumed. He had great reason to regret what was done in this country, as far as education for Catholic children was concerned. Every means was taken to seduce them from the faith of their fathers, while little was done to establish them in that religion which was so deeply impressed on the minds of the Catholic people.—(Laughter.) It had been said that the present Government, when the Factories Bill of last session was introduced, meant fairly. lie, for one, asserted, that the present. Government did not, and never could mean fairly.— (Loud cheers.) He deprecated the attempt made in France to take the education from the hands of the clergy, and give it to an infidel university. The King of the French had given his sanction to that scheme; he seemed to be possessed of that species of madness which indicated a speedy downfal. —(Loud cheers.) So soon as a people forget the name of a God, they would soon forget that of a King. The meeting dispersed at half-past ten. THE PROPOSED TAX ON COALS. MEETING AT OLD BRENTFORD. Yesterday afternoon a public) meeting of the inhabitants of Old and N'evt Brentford, and of the towns in the adjacent neighbourhood, was held, pursuant to public notice, in the Committee-room, Old Brentford, for the purpose of petition ing Parliament against the imposition of a tax of fivepence per ton upon all coals imported into the port of London, to defray the expense of erecting an embankment and terrace on the banks of the river Thames, at London. The Rev. Mr. Thompson, the minister of Old Brentford, was in the chair. Mr. T. LarToN, of Old Brentibrd, moved the first reso lution. Jury seconded the motion. Mr. J. MorrcomEur, of Old Brentford, moved the second resolution. Mr. KEEN, of Isleworth, seconded the resolution. Mr. W. Jurr begged to ask if the coals brought to Brent ford, and further upwards, were not already taxed by the City three-halfpence per ton after they passed Strand-on the-Green, while as far up the river as Chiswick they were not liable to the tax.—(Hear, hear.) Mr. BANYON said that was a fact. Mr. Bccrim: (agent at Brentford to the Clay Coal Com pany) said, from the inquiries he had made, he understood that that the proposed tax would apply equally to inland coals as to seaborne coal, and that all coals coming into Lon don, whether by sea or canal, &c., will be liable to the tax. Mr. R. B. ROWS, of Brentfo r d Soap Factory, in moving the third resolution, said the tax was, in his opinion, a most urust one.—(Hear.) Dlr. J. FLETCHER seconded the resolution, which, as well as the preceding one, was carried unanimously. Mr. WARNE then moved the adoption of petitions to both Houses of Parliament, founded on the resolutions, which were earned without a dissentient voice. _ . _ A Committee was then appointed to carry out the object of the meeting, and a subscription was commenced to defray the expense. The meeting then broke up. The price of bread in Paris, for the remainder of the present month, is fixed at 34 centimes the kilogramme. A letter from Palermo, of the 25th ult., contains the following account of an event which occurred in the recent earthquake at Caltanissetta, in Sicily. In one of the sulphuric mines of the Prince de Trebbia, in the province of Caltanissetta, four men were buried by its falling in upon them. The Prince immediately employed men to release them, but their labour was continued for eighteen days be • fore the sufferers could be reached. Three of them were found dead, but the fourth, named Giacomo Paterno, was still alive. He related that he escaped the wounds and bruises which his companions received, and supported life by licking with his tongue the moisture from the sides of the galleries as he roamed about hoping to find some aperture by which he might escape. The Prince de Trebbia has granted him a pension sufficient to maintain hiin without labour. ECCLESIASTICAL COURT'S. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sui,—l happened lately to peru cel lo Bill brought into the House of Lords by the Lord Chanr, for the regulation of the Ecclesiastical Courts, and having previously read in your l'arliamentary reports that his Lordship had stated five 13 _ 1 : 1hui ch w n cerphpar: i rs ni esIde, s een t nna r odt a noea t t i t o hilf n l.aeol s ilrur.ded h edi ad Asdfrnot b aomo e t f t o trtpr r adh e ,caseeseco_ a s, t moi t it e utanfli m lie:v, p tGa te i t iepiI a rnnatrme B isres i he ll for the same I d . that, fe tb Green. ori Idl g i f should ni interests, e parish ioner would na o.s died, f e l l l e o a w v in t r g a n d o e s t h m i n a g n , but or w h at m s ander this new Bill, if I was called upon to act as the excels* n would k y a nd o u l i w a d ie ts be t t o andtno-Icy k Ii w i fe i thi n k h e tr a d e i tr i o f f a 1 due to me by my fell ow -p ar i s hi oners; no much astonished as I was, to find that inhabitants of Gs 'eenwich, who, by land and water stertna-carriage, are wit hin half an hour of London, at the expense of 6d. or Is, are , bound to lodge their wills at the Bishop's Court at Ro chester, twenty-five miles off, at a considerable increase of expeifse of money, time, and convenience; and when so lodged at Rochester, that the stamp on the probate (which ;,'tamp-duty the Lords of the land, un d er th e old borough mongering Parliament, unjustly placed on my stock in trade and debts, and yet have, and do still keep it off their own landed property) must be obtained from London ; and that after wards a copy of the will must be sent from Rochester to Lon don, that my children may pay one per cent. on all the pro perly I have scraped together to leave them, and yet the owner of 100,000/. a year in land may leave it all to his chil dren by his will, without their being compelled or liable to pay one farthing of duty. Oh, outrageous, unjust class legis lation! Do, pray Mr. Editor, make some observations in your able paper, that will awaken the just, honest, mid true Members of the Lords and Commons Houses of Parliament to this crying and invidiously cruel abuse. Surely the Bill brought in by the Chancellor must have been drawn up by some oae not possessed of common sense, and totally unacquainted with the subject on which he was directed by his patron to draft this abortive foetus Bill, and utterly reckless of the wants .And wishes of the public. I suspect—the suspicion having it s , birth from the speeches and proceedings in Parliament— it is a Bill never meant to succeed, but is brought in as a de ception, that the Government may seem to be doing some thing, to help to stop the hands and mouths of others, but which something it never meant to be completed. The population of Greenwich, Woolwich, Deptford, Lee, Lewisham, Eltham, Bromley, &c., in the county of Kent, who are thus sacrificed to conflicting interests, are upwards of 150,000. Poor hard pressed over-taxed John" Bull will think their case is the worst possible instance oethe rich oppressing the poor, but where does he think the poor inhabitants of Southwark, Ro therhithe, Kent-road, Lambeth, Brixton, Clapham, Wands.. worth, Putney, &c., in the county of Surrey, with a popula tion amounting to near a quarter of a million, living within a few minutes or hours' walk ordrive of London, and whither they can proceed on foot or by some conveyance almost every minute of the day, at an expense of about one shilling, must lodge their wills under this precious new, well-considered Bill ? Why, the interest and convenience of 500,000 inhabitants, being, of course, duly considered and thought of (amongst the other conflicting interests), by the patriots who now com pose her Majesty's Ministry, they have in their wisdom de termined that Winchester (the Bishop's Court there), being only about seventy miles off, is the most convenient place for the Surreyites tctake their wills to ; and, no doubt, as the Surreyites are r c.irse off than the Kenti s h men , t h e K entish men can have no j •ust cause of complaint. Ah, bah ! I would, Mr. Editor, I had a voice of thunder, to make this rank jobbing well known, and heard from one end of the country to the other, froo the Land's-end t o Sh a k speare ' s Cliff, from Plymouth to Hui; ; or that my pen was like the tongue of the Psalmist, a ready writer, that the inhabitants of other localities might be roused up to peruse this Bill and see how tenderly her Majesty's Ministers, through their Lord Chancellor, attends to the convenience and interest of her Majesty's subjects. I cannot do the subject justice; you can, and I trust will. What does the Lord Chancellor mean by conflicting interests? Is not the interest of the public at large the first interest to be attended to by a Government in its legislative enactments, and should not all interests that oome in conflict with this primary and essential one fall into the shade ? As to one of the conflicting interests, I have heard it cal culated that, in sinecures held mostly by the relatives or con nexions of the present or past Arch or other Bishops, or by other persons having interest, direct or indirect, in Parlia ment ; and in fees to the clergy under the present working of the Ecclesiastical Courts, including therein the fees on marriage licenses; there is the enormous sum of nearly one million annually divided amongst sinecurists and clergy_ Here is, indeed, interest enough to make the conflict very severe, annual income sufficient to raise an army, or to main tain a fleet ; this is the key-stone to a social change, which has been wanted and attempted for 300 years past, never yet having been effected, and which for the last fifteen years has engaged the serious attention of all the Administrations for the time being, without their daring to face it; but the country at large will now require to have it settled, not by such a disgraceful, place-hunting, time-serving, sinecure screening, Bill as that brought in by the Lord Chancellor, but by a measure founded upon broad, large, and liberal principles, having the interest of the public, the poor equally with the rich, properly provided for; and I beg to subscribe myself, ONE OF YOUR CONSTANT READERS, and one of the quarter of a million living within five miles of London, south of the River Thames. COURSING MEETINGS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sra,—A question of considerable importance to per sons who are in the habit of attending public coursing meetings has arisen in West Norfolk, upon the con struction of the Acts relating to game certificates, under the following circumstances :—A public coursing meeting took place on the 17th of November last, upon the farm of Mr. Charles Edward Overman, at Burnham, for the running of matches, at which about twenty qualified gentlemen attended with their dogs, as well as a considerable number of persons in the neighbourhood, who had no game certificates. Besides the flogs be longing to the qualified gentlemen present there were other dogs ran whose owners were also qualified, N.:t who were not present. Informations were subsequently laid by common informer..., under the Game Certificate Acts (52 Geo. 111., cap. 93, and 54 Geo. 111., cap. 143), against between twenty and thirty persons who were in the field, for aiding and assisting persons in taking game who did not use their own dogs, but who no otherwise aided or assisted than by riding to see the several courses ; the beating for the hares, and the proceedings of the day being wholly conducted by members of the Burnham Coursing Club. All the informations except one were dismissed, upon formal, or legal objections, by the Commissioners of Assessed Taxes before whom the informations were laid ; but Mr. Shearman, one of the defendants was con victed in the mitigated penalty of 10/. because he was unable to prove that all the dogs which ran belonged to qualified persons tvho were present. This conviction was appealed to at the last Norwich Sessions, and quashed upon a point of law, leaving the main question still un decided, namely, whether unqualified persons attending a coursing meeting as spectators, be liable to penalties if any of the dogs belong to persons who are not present. Many lawyers contend that such is the true construction of the Acts, and some opinions given upon cas es sent to the judges of the superior courts by Commissioners of Taxes tend to confirm this view of the question. It can hardly however, be believed that such could have been the in tension of the Legislature, as it would effectually put an end to all public coursing. What unquali fied person would, for instance, attend a meet ing at Swaffham or Newmarket, and expose him self to penalties, as the informers contend he would do, in case Mr. Gurney, or any other gentleman whose dogs ran, should happen to be absent? It never could be intended to make the liability to the certificate duty dependent upon such a contingency, or to preclude unqualified persons from occasionally par ticipating in an innocent amusement in company with those who are qualified, by rendering it necessary to ascertain that the owners of all the dogs which ran are present. While, however, the law is in a state of un certainty in this respect, informers mar, in expectation of a rich harvest, put hundreds of respectable persons to great expense, and in hazard of paying penalties by lodging informations ; and it therefore behoves all those who take an interest in coursing to unite in an appeal to the Legislature to make such an amendment of the Game Certificate Act as will remove all doubt upon the question. W. WITHERS, Solicitor for the above Defendants. Church House Holt, March 16. Note.—The Act of 52 Geo. 111., imposed a penalty of 201. and a double game certificate upon every person, not having a certificate, who should assist in taking or killing game ; but these penalties are repealed by the 54th Geo. 111., " provided that the act of aiding and as sisting be done in the company or presence, and for the use of another person who shall have obtained a certifi cate in his own right, and shall then and there use his own dog, gun," &o. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF LONDON.—Yester day there was a numerous meeting of the members at the Horticultural-rooms, in Regent-street; Sir Charles Lemon, Bart., M.P., in the chair, supported by a fashionable assembly. There was a large miscellaneous collection of ornamental plants and flowers. Amongst the more remarkable were some specimens of the Schomburgia undulate, a plant of brilliant flower, indigenous to the tropics, but naturalised in this country by Schoenberg, the traveller. Mrs. Law rence contributed some line specimens of dendrobium and epidendrium. A curious plant, cultivated with charcoal, from the Society's gardens, was likewise exhibited, remark able for its gay and flaunting colours, and which has found its way into the floricultural cabinet under the title of "Fanny Trippit." There were some fine specimens of a class of richly coloured plants called epacris, with other distinct varieties, from Mr. Arabin, of Woodford, Essex, Mr. Schroeder, Brixton, and other Fellows, of the Society. The hot-beds of the Society's gardens, produced cucumbers frombetween 13 to 19 inches long. The following is an ex tract from the Society's weather almanac :—March 8, baro nieter highest, 30.260 ; March 15, ditto lowest, 29 . 452. March 9, thermometer highest, 58 deg. Fahrenheit; March 5, ditto 'owes* 19 deg. Fahrenheit. Total amount of rain, 14 inch. The medals and rewards, together with the subject for exhibition at the Society's annual exhibitions, having been announced, the meeting separated. STEAM BOAT COLLISION. -01 1 Saturday night last, soon after twelve o'clock, the Royal Adelaide ateaws ship left St. Katherine's wharf for Leith, with passengers, and a largo and valuable cargo, and about two hours afterwards run down the sloop William, of Yarmouth, off Erith, and the master and crew narrowly escaped with their lives. It ap pears that the night was very dark, and the wind blowing fresh from the east at the time the accident happened. The sloop, which had a cargo on board of nearly four hundred barrels of Yarmouth ale, from the brewery of Sir E. Lucan, was bound up on the flood tide, nearly in mid stream, and the steamer was going in the contrary direction, nearly at full speed. The Royal Adelaide struck her in the bows, and such was the force of the concussion that she began to fill immediately, and went down The loss is estimated at up wards of 1;500/. DEATH IN THE MILLIIANIE PRlSON.—Yesterday Mr. Higgs held an inquest iu the Milbank Prison, on the body of Samuel Siltett, aged seventeen, a convict, sentenced to ten years' transportation. Captain Groves, the governor, said deceased was received on the Ist of December last, from Ipswich gaol, haying been convicted at the October assizes of housebreaking, that being a second conviction, and re ceiving the above sentence. Dr. Baly, the prison physician, said that when deceased was admitted he had scrofulous affection of the intestines and lungs, from the effects of which he died on Monday last. In reply to a question by a j uror, the Governor said that, though the silent system prtyailed in the institution, it was not rigorously enforced. Dr. Baly also, in answer to a question, said that the silent system would aggravate the diseases most common to the inmates of the prison. —Verdict, " Natural death." 'i~ ~~ I~~b~ 4 1 ;i4 OTAHEITE. The following are two curious extracts from the eor respondence (just presented to Parliament) relating to the affairs of Otaheite. The first is a letter from Queen Pomare to Queen Victoria, and the second is a specimen of " Otaheitean legislation :" " QUEEN POMAREAND CHIEFS OF OTAHEITE TO QUEEN VICTORIA. " Otaheite, Nov. 8, 1838. " Salutations, greetings ; and friendship to the mighty Queen of England. " That I, Queen Pomare, with chiefs and representa .. tives of my people, assembled to-day as one body and soul, to manifest to you, with the greatest deligkt, our sentiments of obligation your constant and Christian sympathy has laid us under. " That in doing so, we are not only fulfilling a duty transmitted to us by a generation nearly gone by, but that, accustomed from childhood to cherish the English name, we are following the impulse of our own hearts. "'That since the first Englishman neared our shores in one of your vessels, we have praised you as the only nation which showed us a Christian heart, and now may you lend us a Christian hand. " That the blessings of your religion, which through your pious exertions you taught us to follow, opened to us two new entrances to two new worlds, unknown here tofore to our poor people. " That with the assistance of Jesus Christ and the pa ternal care of the missionaries, we may hope to secure one of these worlds; but, that the other in which civiliza tion leads us into, begins to embitter our life, and will ultimately deprive us even of the dominion of the graves of our ancestors, if we are left to our own resources. " That the commerce and industry which civilization attracts to our islands puts us daily into relations with the white people, superior to us in mind and body, and to whom our institutions appear foolish, and our Govern ment feeble. " That we made our exertions, with the concurrence of what our poor experience and knowledge taught us, to obviate these difficulties; but that if we have suc ceeded in enacting the laws, we cannot succeed in giving them the strength and force which they require. " That thus, in our utter impossibility to make our selves strong and respected, we are threatened in what we have dearest to our hearts—the Protestant faith and our nationality. " That we have nobody to assist us in our helpless situation except you, who implanted in our hearts, through your people, the love of Jehovah, the love of order and industry. - . _ _ " Do not let these good seeds perish; do not leave undone what you began, and what is so happily pro gressing; lend us your powerful hand; take us under your protection; let your flag cover us, and your lion defend us; determine the form through which we could shelter ourselves lawfully under your wings; cause our children to bless you, and to cherish your Christian feel ings as we do. " May the Great Jehovah preserve you, avid recom pense you for all you , do in our behalf. " Peace be with you, the Queen of Great Britain, &c. " QUEEN POMARE. " TATI. " UTAML " PAOFAL " HITOTI. " P.S.—Should !not what is written above be under stood by you, we refer you to Captain Elliott, command ing your Majesty's ship Fly. He is acquainted with our circumstances, and will make them fully known to you. LAW PASSED BY THE OTAHEITEAN LEGISLATIVE BODY. " A Law concerning the Propagation of Tenets Incon- sistent with the Tim; Gospel:— " Let Otaheite, and all the islands of the kingdom of Queen Pomare, Vahine the First, stand unique under that Gospel which the missionaries from Britain have propagated ever since the year 1797, that is, these forty years past. " When foreigners come from other countries to this, on their landing let this law be put into their hands, that they may know, if such persons persist in teaching tenets which are inconsistent with that true Gospel which has been of old propagated in Otahehite ; if they build houses for worship, if they congregate followers: in uncultivated places, that they might teach them all kinds of strange doctrines ; if they trouble the usual modes of worship, and propagate strange customs for the sake of amusing that do not comport with the written word of the God of Truth, such person has become guilty of breaking the law, and will be judged and awarded. This shall be his award. He will be sent to his own land, and shall not reside in Otahehite. "If any Otaheitean shall propagate doctrines incon sistent with the Gospel of Truth, such as are callei Mamoia, because they are doctrines inconsistent with those which have been taught by the missionaries from Britain, and with what is found in the written word of God, that person has violated the law ; if he be a person of rank or a common man, it is the same, he has broken the law, and will be judged and awarded. This will be his award. He will be sent to his native land to accom plish the sentence of the law in, if it be public road, 50 fathoms ; if any other work, such as is found written in the laws. "If he persist in refusing to do it, he will be judged, and new work imposed on him. " Otaheite, Nov. 8, 1838." ~-- .061 1